Seemingly trivial things that elicit an emotional response of some kind

[spen666]

Technical Excellence Colleges? Are they a bit like those ones we had in the old days? Probably, but maybe they'll be producing 'world beating' trades people.
https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/...-10-technical-excellence-colleges-12-08-2025/

Reinforces the saying there is nothing new under the sun

 

[First Aspect]

Colleges that offer a range of technical courses could be called polytechnics.

 

[spen666]

Colleges that offer a range of technical courses could be called polytechnics.

too radical - discriminates against those less academic.

I'm suprised we are still allowed to give people grades for GCSE, A LEvel and Degrees - it discriminates against the lazy or less academic

 

[First Aspect]

Yes, non-competitive school sports day every day is the way to go. That way young people won't have their confidence damaged before entering the workforce.

 

[spen666]

Yes, non-competitive school sports day every day is the way to go. That way young people won't have their confidence damaged before entering the workforce.

We need to look at the workforc, its wrong some people are given titles like manager, Director, CEO etc whilst others get called trainees or apprentices - we need to stop this discrimination - everyone should be called an employee and all earn the same

 

[AuroraSaab]

Reinforces the saying there is nothing new under the sun

We've always undervalued technical and practical skills in the UK. Starting with Blair there was a big push to get kids to go to uni and make polys academic not practical. End result; student debt, more graduates than graduate jobs, and a lack of technical skills in young people. Until we stop being snobby about manual/technical work it will always be seen as second best, even though it can be well paid and interesting work.

 

[First Aspect]

We need to look at the workforc, its wrong some people are given titles like manager, Director, CEO etc whilst others get called trainees or apprentices - we need to stop this discrimination - everyone should be called an employee and all earn the same

I actually know some companies a bit like this. It doesn't work all that well, oddly enough. It is pretty clear who is in charge mostly, but if there's ever any doubt it seems to inevitably end up with the tail wagging the dog.

 

[icowden]

Yes, non-competitive school sports day every day is the way to go. That way young people won't have their confidence damaged before entering the workforce.

I still find it odd that the Government refuses to learn from Private Schools.

My daughter's school is fiercely competitive - the girls are encouraged to play competitive sports, and the best to play against other schools. At the same time they have moved away from forcing people to be miserable when doing PE and encourage team work and sportsmanship (sportswomenship?). For example, the best players in the first 11 for netball will act as coaches and mentors to younger years and girls aren't bullied if they aren't great at a particular sport - just encouraged and supported.

There are similar patters for academic excellence too.
It's almost as if it works to develop leadership skills, resilience and initiative.

 

[AndyRM]

I still find it odd that the Government refuses to learn from Private Schools.

My daughter's school is fiercely competitive - the girls are encouraged to play competitive sports, and the best to play against other schools. At the same time they have moved away from forcing people to be miserable when doing PE and encourage team work and sportsmanship (sportswomenship?). For example, the best players in the first 11 for netball will act as coaches and mentors to younger years and girls aren't bullied if they aren't great at a particular sport - just encouraged and supported.

There are similar patters for academic excellence too.
It's almost as if it works to develop leadership skills, resilience and initiative.

I'm a fan of that sporting approach, it's one we use at the hockey club where I coach.

My favourite example being one of the U12s who was getting more and more frustrated because she could see what was going on in the game, just didn't have the stick skills to influence it. Almost at the point of packing it in, I got her to join me on the sidelines as she has this incredible sixth sense and can almost predict what's going to happen.

That was a couple of years ago, now she's the assistant coach for the U16s and seriously considering following this as a career.

 

[spen666]

I still find it odd that the Government refuses to learn from Private Schools.

My daughter's school is fiercely competitive - the girls are encouraged to play competitive sports, and the best to play against other schools. At the same time they have moved away from forcing people to be miserable when doing PE and encourage team work and sportsmanship (sportswomenship?). For example, the best players in the first 11 for netball will act as coaches and mentors to younger years and girls aren't bullied if they aren't great at a particular sport - just encouraged and supported.

There are similar patters for academic excellence too.
It's almost as if it works to develop leadership skills, resilience and initiative.

Does that approach actually work?

The reason I ask is that certainly in football the best players rarely make the best coaches.

 

[laurentian]

Does that approach actually work?

The reason I ask is that certainly in football the best players rarely make the best coaches.

I think this depends on your definition of "the best"

 

[icowden]

Does that approach actually work?
The reason I ask is that certainly in football the best players rarely make the best coaches.

It seems to. It's partly to give them coaching experience but also to encourage those who don't really enjoy the sport and to ensure that those in the top teams don't become some sort of invisible elite.

 

[BoldonLad]

I still find it odd that the Government refuses to learn from Private Schools.

My daughter's school is fiercely competitive - the girls are encouraged to play competitive sports, and the best to play against other schools. At the same time they have moved away from forcing people to be miserable when doing PE and encourage team work and sportsmanship (sportswomenship?). For example, the best players in the first 11 for netball will act as coaches and mentors to younger years and girls aren't bullied if they aren't great at a particular sport - just encouraged and supported.

There are similar patters for academic excellence too.
It's almost as if it works to develop leadership skills, resilience and initiative.

Is that the system in use at Eton, which has produced most of our esteemed Prime Ministers, I believe

 

[First Aspect]

Is that the system in use at Eton, which has produced most of our esteemed Prime Ministers, I believe

You need to distinguish between correlations and causations. By merely attending Eton, you are already probably well ahead in life because your parents are likely to be rich and well connected, and you will yourself emerge rich and well connected.

These benefits would be conferred if all you were taught was finger painting.

 

[icowden]

Is that the system in use at Eton, which has produced most of our esteemed Prime Ministers, I believe

Possibly but Eton is a very poor example to use as it is very different to pretty much all other private schools. Generally speaking, Private schools have smaller class sizes and more resource. They often emphasis leadership and independence and focus on ensuring that they get the best out of each pupil. Many are now also providing top quality pastoral care as they take more children with issues such anxiety, high functioning autism, eating disorders etc due to lack of state provision.