Art music and PE teaching in Miller Academy

[engiebenjy]

I was just wondering if any other primary schools have suffered the same fate as Miller Academy's younger children. New policy which has been introduced (and funnily enough not relayed on to parents at the time) means that primary 1-3 no longer have art, music and PE taught by outside specialist teachers. Primary 4-7 continue to receive this, however the teachers, who already have enough on their plate are now responsible for teaching these specialised subjects, in which they have only received the basic training. The travesty is made even worse, when you hear that Miller has apparently spent £6,000 (not £600) on handbells of all things for the pupils to take part in the year of culture stuff going on in Inverness next year. Also, under Highland Councils policy of not replacing classroom assistants, when the one that is apparently leaving soon goes, they will not be replaced, further burdening the teachers. Am I the only parent who is absolutely disgusted by this? I know that the outside teacher situation is not the case in all primary schools in Caithness, I was just looking to gauge how many others are affected?

[Alice in Blunderland]

This one came up before the summer holidays:( .All primary schools are affected some local rural primary schools have little or no specialist teachers.The reason given was that there are not enough specialist teachers around any more so it is a case of supply and demand .Some other council areas no longer have specialist teachers at all as they could not recruit either so scrapped it altogether.Complaints were made at the time but not a lot could be done as you cannot offer something when there are no staff to carry out the job.This is what we were told:confused , also that primary teachers in their training are taught to teach these subjets to a basic level thus ensuring that the children do not miss out totally.

[willa]

As I said in a previous thread my child whom is at a rural school has not received any music, art or PE teaching this year. They get swimming and the library once every three weeks. I just think this is a disgrace. The standard of teaching which she receives within the class is not at question it is fantastic, but what is happening with everything else. All you need to read is the guidance notes for teachers (which you can find on the web) and very little of it is being done. Didn't Tony Blair say Education, Education, Education. Perhaps this was a question rather than a statement!!

[Cedric Farthsbottom III]

This thread grabbed me because I actually took a couple of years out to be a PE teacher.Found out it was too expensive the course for me personally,but enjoyed my time all the same.Especially the night life of Edinburgh:lol: !!!

The teaching bit was excellent,with placements in primary schools and secondary schools.We were all asked if it was Secondary teachers or Primary teaching we preferred,the majority said that it was Secondary as they found it more challenging.

So to answer yer question enjiebenjy,there could still be a shortage because of this judgement.It was 15 year ago,since i was asked the question so maybe it was the start.

[mums angels]

i agree that it is a shame that schools are not getting specilist teachers but don't think that it is a disgrace, its not the schools fault it is down to politics and lack of teachers, my children go to Miller and by the state of my youngests jumper this week he seems to be getting plenty of art time and when they are younger i don't think they need the specialist help as much, its just a bit of fun, i would be dissapointed however if my eldest wasn't getting Art class.

As for the Head teaching post , i think that it was a crying shame that Mr lannon retired at the end of last year , i have every faith in mrs mitchell to do a great job until a new head is posted , i would rather them taking there time and doing plenty of interviews to insure that they get the right person for the job instead of just posting someone "that would do" because of a little extra work load on some teachers.good luck to them , there doing a great job under the circumstances.

[rockchick]

Teachers are trained in all subjects, but with the best will in the world can not be experts in all of them.
There is always a benifit to having specialist teachers in subjects like gym, music etc it is up to the council to deliver the best education to all children. If the teachers arn't there to do it there is only one group of people to blame and that is not the schools.


There were at least two articles in the local papers back in August and September. One I cant locate the but in it the highers up in the Highland Council outline their feelings towards specialist teachers and they feel there is no real problem

There is also this article

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/673/Kirk_concern_at_'intolerable%92_pressures_on_teach ers.html

This is affecting ALL schools in Caithness.


If we want a change we need to write our local, regional and national politicians.

[rockchick]

This one came up before the summer holidays:( .All primary schools are affected some local rural primary schools have little or no specialist teachers.The reason given was that there are not enough specialist teachers around any more so it is a case of supply and demand .Some other council areas no longer have specialist teachers at all as they could not recruit either so scrapped it altogether.Complaints were made at the time but not a lot could be done as you cannot offer something when there are no staff to carry out the job.This is what we were told:confused , also that primary teachers in their training are taught to teach these subjets to a basic level thus ensuring that the children do not miss out totally.

There are more than enough teachers in Scotland. Are you sure they even advertised?

[engiebenjy]

This is affecting ALL schools in Caithness.
If we want a change we need to write our local, regional and national politicians.


The original point of my thread was to gauge how many schools this was affecting, as I know that it is not all of them. I fully intend to lobby local councillors, head of education and MP etc - but I wanted more facts before I could do this i.e. which other schools is this happening in?

You may find this interesting : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5362670.stm

[rockchick]

Here is the link to the other article.
It is sad in this day and age where the council makes claims of 21st century schools etc that they are abandoning our children like this.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=14800474&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

[topotheuk]

Crossroads is affected. I agree it is a shame as the teachers over the years have been getting more and more other stuff they "need" to do alongside the teaching. When the specialist teachers were in the class teachers could do their other required work, now they are expected to do both with no extra hours on their contract. But hey, isn't this the way Britain in general is going? More work, no more Pay?

[davem]

Quite agree that specialist teachers are needed.
As to buying handbells, I have no idea whether they were bought or cost that much, but if they are for the highland year of culture there were grants especially for that and people were encouraged to apply. If you got a grant it was to spend on what you applied for, not PE teachers!
So if there is a gripe over how much was spent, blame the committee who made the award not Miller who obviously put in a good application form.

[mostlyharmless]

When we are going through a period of trying to reverse the trends of ill health in kids who over eat and don't exercise and preparing one hopes the olympians of the future, it seems ridiculous to me that sport in particular is not being pushed high on the curriculum.
Overworked teachers or overworked parents will take on the role as best they can.

[Max]

Can someone run the handbell thing by me again? What exactly did the £6,000 buy?????

[bobsgirl]

My son also goes to Miller Academy and because of the shortage of P.E. staff they are going to be introducing swimming lessons after the holidays until the Christmas holidays at least. He is only in Primary 2 but he absolutely loves swimming and goes through the lessons after school at the moment.
I think this is a brilliant idea, I think swimming is good for them in all sorts of ways and also makes children more aware of water and the dangers. (Especially when we live up here). If they learn to swim at an early age then they are doing well.
I didnt learn to swim until Primary 6 and trust me it wasnt fun being that age and starting off with armbands, very embarrasing! My mum has a fear of water which would explain that!

[Alice in Blunderland]

There are more than enough teachers in Scotland. Are you sure they even advertised?
As you have said there are a lot of teachers in Scotland but with the mcrone settlement and the limited amount of money and teachers this was why we have a situation like this.I dont agree with it in any way but having sat through a few meetings with head teacher and area eduction boss I can see that there is a problem and no real answer in sight as is always the case its the children who loose out not the politiians or the education bosses.If you dont have the funds then you will not get the service the eduaction budget seems to have to stretch a longer way each year so its those who set the budget who need to go back to school and learn their maths all over again.

[weeboyagee]

When I was in 5th year at High School we had to have Grade 7 or 8 (Board of the Royal Schools of Music) in an instrument (or have the ability to qualify this exam) and at least Grade 5 theory (or the ability to qualify this exam) to be able to study Higher Music. I took the Higher and passed. That same year there was a tremendous change in the course study and the following year you could sit and pass Higher music on theory only. So in 6th Year I took the Higher again and passed. To qualify to do Music at University or College and become a Music Teacher you had to have the same qualifications as mentioned at the start of the post.

Later, after the change of the syllabus, you could qualify for University or College with the ability shown at Grade 2.

Why? Because it takes nearly a year to learn and pass a grade with some children and unless you start at an early age (I started when I was 6) you didn't have Grades 7 or 8 by the time you came to 5th Year at High School. They changed it so that if you could show an ability to learn Music and show that you could learn quickly, you would get your Higher, enter University or College at a low ability music grade and graduate at a higher grade.

This made it easier for more music students to get into University and College and become qualified Music Teachers. A lot of debate went on about the quality of musical ability and the fact that it wasn't putting the empahsis on learning music at an early age leaving it until later in the child's life.

I am not so sure how the policies being enacted at the same time with Music may have affected the other "nice to have" more practical subjects at school but the question I have is - what fruit is there to the policy of generating more music teachers now given their actions of (ahem,...cough,.....) a few years ago (1982/3 and 1983/4).

I wanted to become a Music Teacher and landed up with a different career. In hindsight I would love to have been a music teacher (Secondary preferably) but knowing what I know now I don't think I would rewind time to change it.

If there are more like minded like me then you will have no shortage of musicians for entertainment and private tuition but there will be very few available for the teaching profession.

I would be VERY annoyed to find out that there are music teachers available but the council have still cut the funding.

This whole problem is NOT a problem with a simple solution. No teachers, no specialist teaching. Immediate resolve - action plan to tackle the problem! I haven't seen that being posted yet......

WBG :cool:

[rockchick]

As you have said there are a lot of teachers in Scotland but with the mcrone settlement and the limited amount of money and teachers this was why we have a situation like this.I dont agree with it in any way but having sat through a few meetings with head teacher and area eduction boss I can see that there is a problem and no real answer in sight as is always the case its the children who loose out not the politiians or the education bosses.If you dont have the funds then you will not get the service the eduaction budget seems to have to stretch a longer way each year so its those who set the budget who need to go back to school and learn their maths all over again.

I think all authorities were given money from the Scottish executive to fund the extra teaching staff needed for Mccrone which above the money the council had for specialist teachers.

If you check the article that I posted earlier It seems to be a Highland problem only.
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=14800474&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch


A quote from the above article

Educational Institute of Scotland education convener George McBride said the council had been given five years to plan for the implementation of the agreement, which limits teachers' working week to 35 hours.

"Other councils have been doing their planning for some time and I think it is unfortunate that Highland Council should have left its planning to the very last days," he said.

On scotland.gov.uk site it says the in the Mccrone agreement that by 2004

Completion of the recruitment of additional support staff (31 March)

Completion of stage two of the transitional arrangements and the recruitment of additional teachers to facilitate the move towards a maximum class contact time of 22.5 hours (1 August)

Additional support staff, not existing ones. I believe money was made available as well.

Lots of questions....very few answers.

[elaine]

I can only comment about what happens down here (N. Lanarkshire) in music.
Very few of our feeder primary schools have a specialist music teacher.
Miller really is lucky to have any at all!

I was always under the impression that it was up to the individual head teacher how the budget for these things is divvied up - I may be wrong.

Also, in reply to wee boyagees comments about being able to qualify for uni at grade 2. I hope this course he saw was not to actually study music!!!
Generally, the minimum is grade 8 standard on your 1st and preferably on your 2nd as well (to qualify for a decent course that is!). Of course many are way beyond that and competition is rife! The fact that you now only need to be grade 4 on two instruments for higher music does not change the fact that they expect a far, far higher standard if you want to study the subject.

Anyway, it is a shame that p1-3 are losing out but at least they will still benefit from 4 years of specialist tuition before they hit the secondary which is more than most! I just hope the money they are saving will be well spent! Not on handbells, I hope! D'OH!!