Spoon-fed teenagers failing to read books

By Graeme Paton, Education Editor Published: 12:17PM GMT 07 March 2010

Teenagers are increasingly relying on a small series of textbooks scripted by examination play to pass tests instead of utilizing a far-reaching accumulation of sources, it was claimed.

John Dunford, ubiquitous cabinet member of the Association of School and College Leaders, pronounced it helped maximize formula and progress schools positions in joining tables at the responsibility of a correct bargain of key subjects.

Cult of luminary "is harming children" Ofsted: Schools "teaching to the test" Primary review: "start grave lessons at six" Primary review: propagandize standards stand "has been exaggerated" Ofsted "stigmatises" schools A-level results: the relatives guide to traffic with formula

In a debate to the unions annual conference, he pronounced the direction underlined the border to that "assessment is pushing the curriculum".

He additionally pronounced it was standard of Britains "celebrity-dominated multitude where success appears to come now and but any genuine effort".

"It is formidable for teachers to compete," he said. "Success in guidance only doesnt come fast enough."

The comments were done only days after a row of Government advisors indicted examination play of a "conflict of interest" by endorsing their own textbooks to schools.

The group, led by Sir Mark Walport, executive of the healing investigate gift The Wellcome Trust, called for a anathema on the make use of that they pronounced undermined the training of subjects such as maths and science.

Addressing headteachers in London on Sunday, Dr Dunford pronounced schools were increasingly forced to "teach to the test" to strike Government targets, prove Ofsted inspections and stand joining tables.

"What is worrying is to see the approach in that comment is pushing the curriculum," he said. "Learning and the curriculum should come first; comment should follow.

"Now, comment is so most in the pushing chair that couple of A-level classes are utilizing books over those to one side constructed for that specific A-level syllabus.

"The comment complement rewards spoon-feeding and discourages wider reading."

Dr Dunford, who will retire in the summer, used his last debate to headteachers to conflict the "unnecessary bureaucracy" imposed on schools and colleges underneath Labour.

"It seems that if it"s not compulsory, it"s forbidden; and if it"s not forbidden, it"s compulsory," he said.

"The make use of of law has prolonged been in overdrive, compelling tick-box compliance, shortening coherence and betraying miss of trust."

He picked out the Governments stream concentration on student "wellbeing" the expostulate to keep young kids happy, foster full of health eating and earthy fitness and cut bullying.

Dr Dunford referred to that relatives had a far bigger purpose to play, but the avocation was being forced on schools.

"In annoy of the uncertainties around wellbeing, schools are to be hold comment for something on that they have, at most, a prejudiced grant to make," he said.

"And misfortune of all, the burden on wellbeing threatens to be formed on numerical interpretation the series of young kids receiving a propagandize lunch, the series you do five hours of competition a week, and so on.

"If a settlement is to be done on wellbeing, it should be done by a chairman not a statistic."