GEOGRAPHY OF EXAM RESULTS

Like most other things, there is a lots of bullshit talked about exam results. I read a report that said kids do better in London due to; better teachers; more choice of schools. However as N.I. outperforms all English areas this must be bollox. The tories will love to see that Wales does worse than England with a Labour government. However, whilst I cannot explain N.I. I believe the crucial factor in England is motivation related to post education opportunities. The correlation with wealth is obvious. Whilst avoiding a future dominated by basic wage job prospects might be a motivation for some, especially those with parents able to mitigate lack of motivation.

Places like Cornwall may seem idyllic, but the reality of the job market is bleak for a school leaver with average/good results. Thus the motivation in school is bleak too, older siblings are struggling and sending a message. What I do not know is how to break the cycle.

I also had a discussion with Aaron this morning regarding the exams. He was all in favour of the standardisation enabled by the exam system. Parents would send their children to successful schools was his argument. I must say that he was taking bollox! The choice for most parents in even semi-rural areas is zero. Secondly he believes in a standardised curriculum – why should kids in Cornwall or Sunderland be fed a curriculum developed for the Home Counties and London. I believe that schools and certainly Local Authority areas should be allowed to develop their own curriculums related to local areas. Yes of course there should be a standardisation – but one with a silk glove, not an iron fist. But it is also my belief that education is used to promote nationalism and patriotism – both of which are swear words in my house!

It is also interesting that areas that voted Brexit (and perhaps “taking back control” or maybe just racist?) are those that have lost due to the dominance of London and the South-East! They voted like little children given the opportunity to eat ice cream until they they threw up and realised that the Government would not replace EU funding!

GCSE RESULTS DAY

Is there a more pointless exercise costing millions in the UK? Students have to stay in education until 18 anyway. Has anyone been asked for proof of GCSE’s? I doubt it! Politicians are not willing to take on the old fogeys who yearn for O Levels and Enid Blyton stories! Whilst I think all students should achieve competency in Maths and English, they need different skills than memory tests – we are now in year 27PG. AI is not going to disappear. Climate change will require new adaptations in many fields of study and life. So why have we put yet another generation through the stress of pointless exams? Most children will sit approximately 100 externally marked exam papers to achieve levels that their teachers could predict in a less stressful and much cheaper way. Ahh – it is not just the old fogeys – there is a huge amount of money paid out by schools to the exam boards £500+ per student many comprehensive schools will have an exam budget in excess of £50000 plus at least 2 staff to administer, and the cost of invigilators.

A pointless waste of time in my opinion – but it is much worse than that. Exams are designed not only for children to pass, but to fail. The press and schools will concentrate on pass rates (67.4% is quoted) – that means 32.6% have failed. That does not make these children failures in life, just failures in an antiuated exam system. We also know that parents pay for extra tuiton to cheat the system. And I have not got on to A Levels yet!

LOVE

Once a hippie, always a hippie? Today I have decided to write about how a little more love would be brilliant. Instead of testosterone fuelled bigots dominating the headlines can we have more compassion and reconciliation? OK I know this is pie in the sky and no, I am not high on drugs. regarding asylum seekers can we have positive comments about the contributions they have made since their arrival? Can Trump and Putin stop swinging their little pricks around like infants. How about …. sorry … I cannot keep this up!

So the High Court has ordered the hotel in Epping to move its asylum seekers to? Not their problem! Mean while the shit rag of the Express claims this to be a victory for “the Mums” – unless that means they are deporting all the violent thugs outside the hotel I cannot see how ‘mums’ benefit? And there are things about the asylum seekers that I do not understand? The gangs ferrying them across the channel demand payment – so where do these peoples money come from? Surely there are safer ways – like hiring a yacht to call in at some Cornish, or better, northern port (less likely to be detected; or hire a plane to drop them off at one of our many less used airfields? Why have Labour Government not set up desks in embassies abroad to process, and allow in legitamate asylum seekers – then illegal attempts could be returned to France or country of origin – no profits for the gangs, no more deaths in the channel.

NOT THE 6 O’CLOCK NEWS!!!!

41 of the 60 arrested for the ‘Stop the Boats’ protest in Bristol had previously been reported for domestic abuse allegations.

Bolton grooming gang leader sentenced to 15 years – but no riots because the gang members were all white.

Robert Jenrick pictured with former chief of terror group Combat 18.

Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns, thinks employees should have fewer rights.

Rupert Lowe says helping sick kids is a “terrible decision”.

Reform UK’s Joseph Boam, sacked as Deputy Leader of Leicestershire County Council. Couldn’t do the job, didn’t do the job, never had the skills to do the job, never put in the effort.

The Israeli ambassador to the UN took a brick from under the table and answered why it was necessary to “kill thousands of women and children”: “It’s because of the stone. They throw these stones at us every day. What would you do?”.

AT LAST

A labour government willing to take on the too wealthy! As my mate Andy pointed out yesterday – Abranovich could flee to Russia but could not take his assets like Chelsea FC. with him. Council tax is blatantly unfair – when considering the accumulation of wealth by the rich. I do not fully understand the outline proposals to replace council tax and stamp duty – I am sure that this will be fully documented by GB NEWS AND THE MAIL AND TELEGRAPH. That will be when we know that the ideas are sound! When VAT was proposed for private schools the the papers were full of indignation and gammon faced wankers. But surprise, surprise – they all found the money. The same will happen here. Swaithes of London are owned by foreign nationals – make them pay. Huge areas of the UK are owned by a small number of the very rich – and the rest of us are banned by the laws of trespass from accessing our own country. Lets divert attention from a few thousand migrants and welfare recipients and onto those who are disproportionately wealthy.

WATER

Climate change is not some obscure phenononon that has been sent to punish the poor. The UK has a variable amount of rainfall from over 2000mm in the west and 500mm in the east. Geology further muddies the picture with much of the south east having porous chalk that can store water. However the population has risen and no new reservoirs built for 30 years. So there is a problem if rainfall levels become more erratic. In general terms rainfall has not changed in the UK for 200 years. So the problem is not nature or climate change – just the water companies gross incompetence. Capitalism decrees that failing companies go bankrupt. Labour must be brave and allow Thames Water and some others to go bust. 50% rises in the cost to consumers must not be allowed.

Reeves is spooked by the market after both Truss and then Trump over did tax cuts and financial measures. However the water companies need to adapt. Encouraging less use is imperative, but not at the expenses of personal hygiene. Toilet flushes are generally graduated. Household use is fairly constant, but garden use with water butts could be increased significantly. Introduction of beavers also has a moderating effect on water runoff. Farms should receive grants for own use reservoirs, as should users like golf courses. Basically we need to wise up! The technology exists – use it.

THE FUTURE

Exam results are coming out – but what of the future? The social contract with the young has been broken. By that I mean – work hard at school and get good results, then go to Uni or College and get good qualifications; then get a relevant job and progress to purchasing a property; then a family with quality leisure time. What we have now is millionaires creaming off fat salaries whilst students scramble for the pickings at the internship table, or debate whether it is worth the effort to get a minimum wage job.

Exam boards will inflate passes to keep the fees coming in, as will universities and colleges. 55 years ago I got my A level results D,E,U. and was able to get a job at a bank in the City no problem. Bored with that I changed tack to trainee solicitor – no problem. Not suited to that I ran away to `cornwall and beach jobs, and then got to do Teacher Training with a grant, not a debt.

And the incentive for todays youth is – a hefty debt, lack of job opportunities – low wages, never ending debt due to high rents, lack of real opportunities. My advice to my grandchildren would be ….. actually I am not sure? Travel would be a definite. Then learn a skill, arts and crafts will always be needed, computing possibly. Do a shit job so they know what to avoid! (and save the money for travel). Hospitality jobs can be fun, but are generally poorly paid. As my friend Andy said this morning we need to tax the assets of the rich. Bring back grants for training and apprenticeships. Labour said they would introduce public speaking confidence into the curriculum – about time too!

With google it has become imperiative to increasing stuents ability to process and analyse and become discerning when viewing the internet. Learning facts has not become obsolete with Google, just not so necessary. Exam boards should note this difference.

This brings me on to – well society. In the past a society had a shared experience – whether was, or just common knowledge and events. This is no longer true. Do we need to build a common experience for all. I am not sure – common experience would breed nationalism – usually bad.

basically we need a vision of the future which is positive and hopeful for all our children.

SUNDAY MUSING

Is musing a word? Whatever!

I feel I must start with football – there is so much shit going down in the world that I need to return to te beautiful game. Liverpool and Wolves supporters showed the great humanity that the people on these islands generally have. One Liverpool person is to be prosecuted for racist abuse though. I hope his neighbours and family are ashamed of hime! TBH it is the impact of community that will make a difference, rather than laws. It was good to see that Surrey Police have sent out female joggers and have issued advice and warnings to those morons who bellieve it is acceptable to ‘cat call’ and shout remarks at the women.

Sunderland defied the pundits and in front of a crowd of 46233 won 3-0. They will do well to stay up, but their fans have a week of believing before Burnley away next weekend. I also love the FA Cup which is moving on – my pick, Runcorn Linnets are still going strong with 3 wins, and both Kates and John’s 2nd picks came good.

What to think about Putin and Trump meeting – my brain has gone blank with indifference/boredom/cynicism!

Weather watch – I still think we need a formal delivery of weather items by the PM infront of a pretensious podium flanked with Union Jacks. This week we could have him telling us about thousands dying in floods in Pakistans extreme monsoon, high temperatures at night in Israel and Jordan, Hurricane Erin hitting the Leeward Islands and basically who gives a fuck about the rest of the world. Sorry a bout of cynicism hit me from behind!

And Jenprick still annoys me – representing a failed wing of a once strong party he now calls for strong sentences on Palestine Action supporters. The twat is unbelieviably stupid and attention seeking. Is he really suggesting that we wshould imprison pensioners for saying free Gaza? No wonder many tories with dubious morals are going over to the Reform C***s.

FREEDOM

In Britain we have become used to a large amount of freedom. Despite attempts by the last government to curtail our freedom and expanded by this government – we still have rights. The Guardian today states clearly that International Human Rights Law does NOT proscribe banners that state that an organisation should not be banned. Only the incitement to violence, hatred or discrimination should be illegal. Kent Police were filmed stating that holding a poster saying free Gaza was supporting a terrorist group and potentially could result in a 14 year prison sentence – is this Mr.Plod at his thickest or a directive from above?

This all appears to be a pro-Jewish/Israel campaign. Unfortunately it will create anti-semetism and provide fuel for right wing knuckle draggers who will claim discrimination if peaceful protestors are not locked up like their fascist brethren.

Freedoms can be lost without vigilance – When did the UK become such an intolerant nation. Organisations such as Greenpeace were respected, if not liked or supported. The marginally more intelligent than the knuckle draggers, did not see an opportunity to promote hatred and discourse in our society. Did they actually look at the facts and silently agree with the Greenpeace Activists? Only until a complete c**t like Farage comes along to an orgy of self-agrandment. Did he look at Hitler and Stalin and think to himself that he could tap into peoples fears, prejudices and resentments and be as popular as them?

Am I pathetic for not joining demonstrations? I think I must be – I feel guilty.

MUSIC LIST

A child of the 60’s (born in 1953) I was priviledged with some of the best, and worst of popular music. Worst to follow later, hopefully much later, but let me have your nominations!

My favourite music

//1. Pink Floyd

//1. Jefferson Airplane

//1 Fleetwood Mac

//4.  Bowie

//4.  Jack Johnson

6.  Carol King

7.  Rolling Stones

8.  Some of the Beatles

9.  Stone Roses

10. Morcheeba

11.  Aretha Franklin

12.  Melanie Safka

13. The Who

14.Simon and Garfunkle

15.  Beach Boys

16. Shakira

17.  Fur Elise

There are many that I have just a few songs by like Carly Simon, Roberta Flack (Tamsin says I like wailing women!), Undertones, Oasis, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Neil Young, Robbie Williams ( I like ‘anthems’!), Sinead O’Connor, Queen, Coldplay, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Kate Bush, Linda Gibson. And some oldies like Hollies, Kinks, Manfred Mann, Dave Clark Five (half time on freezing days at Chelmsford City matches).  I quite liked classical music in the school library where the acoustics suited it.  I am sure there are many more songs that will trigger a special moment!

I guess the telling thing would be – could you hack just hearing the top 5, or even just your top 10/17?