Category: Contractor Industry News

Teaching contractors and other educational staff should not be expected to solve social problems, one industry expert has said.

Issues should be discussed in set periods but not substituted for subject teaching, said Professor Michael Young from the London Knowledge Lab at the Institute of Education (IOE).

"These topics are important but they can be discussed in youth clubs, communities, families and churches," he suggested.
Professor Young pointed out that schools which are successful in teaching the core subjects are more likely to have students who avoid social problems.

"Time spent on discussions about obesity, drug use teenage pregnancy can certainly deny pupils opportunities for what only schools can provide," he continued.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has published the academies bill to enable more schools to become academies and give them the freedom and flexibility to manage their own finances.

All maintained schools will be able to apply to become an academy, with all such new establishments being made charities automatically.

Posted by John Crawley