You are the Secretary of State for Education

[Tal]

Congratulations!

In the latest round of reorganisation, you have been given the nod from Mr Cameron that you are to be in charge of education in the UK.

You are given a brief that you can make as many suggestions as you like about how education should be run, changed and improved. These changes will all be considered on their merits and discussed at Cabinet.

However, you get one free change; one thing that, whatever it is, provided it is within your department, will be nodded through by your bosses and will be your legacy.

Will you replace the national curriculum with a different model? Will you get rid of maths? No Shakespeare? Would you get people more involved in learning trades in secondary schools? Smaller class sizes?

How about teaching A-Level age students about gambling? Not just the dangers but the maths: how bookies make money, how algorithms work and how you can look for ways to win. Would this be useful to the next generation, given how popular and easy "flick-in-cash-out" mobile gambling is nowadays?

Over to you.

[DaveShoelace]

I'd make school dinners free and actually healthy.

[RED-DOG]

Stop fining parents for taking their kids on holiday or on a special day trip. They learn more than they would in school anyway, and surely the odd week off can't affect that education that much.

[Doobs]

I'd make school dinners free and actually healthy.

They get that already at my daughter's school, so think you mean extend the scheme.  They currently get them up to year 3, but think the plan is to extend it to all primary schools. 

[DaveShoelace]

Stop fining parents for taking their kids on holiday or on a special day trip. They learn more than they would in school anyway, and surely the odd week off can't affect that education that much.

Actually changed my mind, I'd make it illegal for teachers to moan to their friends about holidays.

[DaveShoelace]

I'd make school dinners free and actually healthy.

They get that already at my daughter's school, so think you mean extend the scheme.  They currently get them up to year 3, but think the plan is to extend it to all primary schools. 

Yep extend it then, great that your daughter gets that. IMO healthy eating (and exercise) are one those butterfly effect things that will profoundly impact a child's life.

Love this fella for that reason

[Jon MW]

I'd make school dinners free and actually healthy.

They get that already at my daughter's school, so think you mean extend the scheme.  They currently get them up to year 3, but think the plan is to extend it to all primary schools. 

Yep extend it then, great that your daughter gets that. IMO healthy eating (and exercise) are one those butterfly effect things that will profoundly impact a child's life.

Love this fella for that reason

I'm sure it'd be very popular with middle class voters - but wouldn't it be hard to justify the cost? Especially given that if (older) pupils want to eat chips - they'll eat chips.

And shouldn't educational reform be a bit more about ... education?

[mulhuzz]

Stop fining parents for taking their kids on holiday or on a special day trip. They learn more than they would in school anyway, and surely the odd week off can't affect that education that much.

Actually changed my mind, I'd make it illegal for teachers to moan to their friends about holidays.

yup. that'll do it.

[DungBeetle]

I'd have smaller classes and make them streamed by abillity.  However, I'd have promotion/relegation to/from streams at the end of each year.  I'd also have a "Conference North Division" for pupils who have no interest whatsoever in being educated.

[RED-DOG]

I'd have smaller classes and make them streamed by abillity.  However, I'd have promotion/relegation to/from streams at the end of each year.  I'd also have a "Conference North Division" for pupils who have no interest whatsoever in being educated.

Don't you have to teach people the value of education? 

[Jon MW]

I'd have smaller classes and make them streamed by abillity.  However, I'd have promotion/relegation to/from streams at the end of each year.  I'd also have a "Conference North Division" for pupils who have no interest whatsoever in being educated.

Streaming or setting (by subject)?

People who are good at Maths might be awful at English (for example);

[RED-DOG]

I'd have smaller classes and make them streamed by abillity.  However, I'd have promotion/relegation to/from streams at the end of each year.  I'd also have a "Conference North Division" for pupils who have no interest whatsoever in being educated.

Streaming or setting (by subject)?

People who are good at Maths might be awful at English (for example);

Oh no they isn't.

[DungBeetle]

I'd like it to be by subject if that isn't too much administrative work.  My aim would be to create a dynamic environment, where going down a stream isn't seen as a negative, just a time to regroup, take things at a slower pace and focus on a promotion campaign the next year.  The lower streams would still do the same syllabus, but spend a bit more time on the solid basics than the top end stuff.  You're still in the game, just less likely to get 90%+ that particular year.

[DungBeetle]

This has benefits for morale as well - pupils won't think "I'm in the lower stream fullstop this year", but might intead be thinking "I'm in the top stream for maths, but need to work harder on my history".

[mulhuzz]

i'd make coding mandatory from primary school up to 18.