I work in a deprived-ish area of generational unemployment and very very low aspiration.
Literacy and Numeracy are low. I've met parents in my 5 yrs there that I've realised could not read documents I'd hand them concerning their child. I've met parents who've never allowed their child near a computer (JWs), or told their child that maths is pointless cause you always have your phone....
We get a small smattering of brilliant children, a few freaks of nature; a minority with an almsot spiritual drive to escape and thus just knuckle down like crazy and grab everything they can, or the lucky ones with stable supportive backgrounds. Sadly these children aren't pushed anywhere near enough because we are so busy making sure everyone is average... that the brightest are left unchallenegd.
A 'C in Eng & Math' for most of our students is like a Gold medal.
According to our data (generated through extensive IQ testing at age 11) less than 35% were capable of getting these grades in BOTH subjects ... we got 39%. Considering the theoretical yield was 35% - putting adolecence (and all its choas) aside - we worked a mini miracle.
BUT... the Gov floor target is 40%.... so on paper we are ineffective.
I just wish the powers that be knew just how tough it is for teachers in low performing schools; how weak SOME learners are; and how placing benchmarks and targets here there and everywhere hurts everyone involved.
REMOVE REGULATION!
STOP JUDGING US - LET US DO OUR JOBS!!!!!!!
As a teacher I see some of my students more often than their parents do. We parent them, we advise them, we teach them and we tend to love them. We can take a child predicted an F get him a D in Maths. That D is one of his greatest achievements - yet staticially he is a failed data point. A reason to call that school a 'failing school'.
It madens men that some children grow up constanly being told they are failing because they are below average in something.
Lets not focus on what they can't do, lets focus on what they can do!