Targets and league tables

SATs can be framed as a reasonable accountability measure with which the majority of teachers have no problem; it is the publishing of league tables that has had the most corrosive effect on education, together with the inspection regime's unhealthy focus on data, this has forced schools to narrow the curriculum to that which is tested.

League tables, which promote shallow learning and teaching to the test, should be abolished, as they don't show the true quality of the school and merely provide ammunition for the right wing hysterical media to bash the state education system.

Teaching is a fantastic career choice because it is a fun job and I do not think enough people appreciate that. Teachers do not help change this because they complain too much about issues that could be dealt with in a better fashion. Having said that, excessive government interference and tinkering with the system does cause confusion and it demoralises staff and students. One single change the government should make is to abolish league tables because with one act you will see schools focusing on what is best for their pupils and not what is best for their league table position. These two things should be the same, but they are not.

I think that the targets culture is ruining education. Teachers and senior staff are now more interested in doing whatever it takes (including cheating) to get their stats up than doing what is best for the students. It's the elephant in the room that nobody is prepared to officially talk publicly about for fear of losing their job. The EBacc is a perfect example of how children are suffering due to targets. Many students are being "forced" onto it whether or not it is the best thing for them just so the schools have a chance to hit a certain percentage on EBacc and so secure a certain place in a local league table. Many pupils are unhappy about this but their protestations are being swept aside by staff to the detriment of their education. It's turned education into a game of targets and I feel it's become something of a farce. It's not what I signed up for I can tell you that for sure.

Driven by targets and levels, the system does not allow for individual freedom to be creative. Headteachers are obsessed by progress and targets and levels. Teachers are oppressed by an Ofsted system that is designed to encourage looking for every single negative aspect they can. Ofsted is a ridiculous, stress-inducing parade, or show that is unreflective of the day to day. Constant monitoring and assessment of teachers marking, teaching, levelling, lessons is a constant burden that does not encourage a sense of team work. People who do the monitoring can have ulterior motives. I had both outstanding lesson observations and inadequate, using the same lesson but the observer was different. It's just so discouraging and ridiculous. I am not enjoying the job but feel my options are limited to change.

The emphasis on exam results has been positive in some respects but the target driven culture has created an instrumentalist view of students and education. This has eroded the pastoral dimension as weaker students have been prioritised less. Teachers have been made more accountable but relationships within schools have suffered. It has generated a less collegiate, cooperative ethos between staff as each seeks to cover their backs and there is less inclination to share resources. Pressures on teachers make it less conducive to family life.

Schools are more anxious places with the huge pressure of a results driven culture.

Targets set for schools are driving the curriculum. Heads should offer the most suitable curriculum for a range of pupils but they don't. They are forced to play the game and offer qualifications that are 'easier' to pass in less curriculum time, often taught by non-specialists.

We are far too target driven focusing on how the school is measured. We have stopped looking at students as individuals meeting their personal individual needs.

Teaching is a fantastic profession. The government make it very target driven, however, there are no bonuses or rewards when you hit or exceed your targets. If however, you miss them, you are disciplined. If they want a target driven culture, there must be some form of bonuses.

Underfunded, undervalued and an unreasonable workload. Poor pupil attitudes to learning and aggressive behaviour towards each other is encouraged by the influence of TV soaps. Class sizes are too large and both money and time are wasted trying to analyse data and meet targets.