Free schools from control

From: Alec Denton, Guiseley.

NOWHERE in Greg Wright’s Business supplement column (The Yorkshire Post, January 21), does he describe or state the skills school leavers are missing. However, whatever these skills are, I believe his premise is correct.

Since the introduction of totally centralised control via the National Curriculum and League Tables, it is now impossible for most state-funded schools to respond to regional needs.

The National Curriculum is not reactive and changing it is far harder than turning the proverbial super tanker. It is a system that in spite of the best efforts of those running it is inevitably always out of date, and particularly so in a rapidly changing world.

From my experience there is no place for initiative in today’s schools unlike in the educational system I was part of prior to 1989.

My antipathy to the National Curriculum became set in stone when, working as school liaison for a large local company, my offer to take into schools a free, relevant, interesting and practical package suitable for all pupils, was rejected by several schools on the grounds that it was ‘not on the National Curriculum’.

The skills required by the world of work are vital for the future of this country and schools must have the opportunity to respond to these needs.

Employers also must become far better at articulating their needs and although The Prince’s Trust does a great job, many more school/employment innovations are needed, together with far less state control and a massive reduction in the unnecessary paper work forced onto teachers.