Education makeover

Education makeover

Dear Gavin Williamson, The state of our children's education has become of real concern. Not only are there too many people vying for school places, which have not increased in line with the rate of immigration, there are not enough school places. We are the only country that force children in to school from the tender age of 4!! All other countries around the globe put children in to education at age 6 or 7. They have middle schools, which we don't, yet is an invaluable idea in progressing children through the daunting journey of senior school. What became apparent to me as the mother of a 10 year old, in Y6, is the pressure to get in to a good secondary school. Shouldn't every child have the right to a good education and one that is equal to everyone? They are sitting entrance exams to get a place to a grammar school - shouldn't they all be of the same calibre? Why are children forced to be tutored from early ages and miss out on childhood just to get in to a good school? My child is in private education, but why should parents be forced to pay. The insane amount of work they have to do to prep them for the 11+ is horrendous for such a young age. Childhood is but one. It is so short and so precious.  My other main issue and reason for writing is the homework. Do adults go to work and come home and do 'more work' or 'homework'? So why do we expect our children to spend the best part of 10-12 hours per day studying? They should be able to relax when they come home. To enjoy time with their family. To have time to pursue extra curricular activities . School should also be 4 day weeks with 3 day weekends. Or at least half day Fridays, as some schools are doing in the north. There is so much mental health issues these days around children and is it any wonder!

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