We need more technology tutors, not cuts say Rawmarsh teachers

Rawmarsh Community School, where teachers struck over job losses for nine days earlier this year, is slashing design and technology teaching posts from nine to three.

Teachers say that local youngsters will miss out on skilled jobs at a time when ways into further and higher education are also being reduced.

One concerned teacher said: “The report says that schools need more specialist teachers not less, yet the department is being slashed. It will be disastrous.”

An Ofsted report criticised the teaching of the subject nationally and called for more specialist knowledge and subject specific training.

Ministers have said that schools had to keep pace with employers’ demands for high quality, technical education so businesses could thrive.

The teacher, who asked not to be named, went on: “The report highlighted the lack of opportunities for students to study subjects such as electronics, systems and control and CAD CAM—computer aided design, computer aided manufacture.

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“The Government has said it will increase the number of specialist teachers but at Rawmarsh the number of specialist technology teachers—including some of the most experienced—are being cut.

“Of the nine, two teachers losing their jobs are systems and control and CAD CAM specialists. The very areas Ofsted and the government are wishing to increase.

“In previous years, students at RCS have had the opportunity to study systems and control, resistant materials, CAD CAM, graphic products, product design and food technology.

“From this year, the students will only have the choice of studying either product design or food technology.

“Technology is a hugely popular and extremely useful subject for students in areas such as South Yorkshire.

“With so many opportunities in the local manufacturing industry, it seems a massive shame that local students will not get the opportunity to learn new skills that will benefit them upon leaving school, as well as achieving a GCSE in the process.

“It must also be added that design and technology results at Rawmarsh Community School have been consistently high for a number of years with a large uptake of students (ten to 20 per cent above the national average). 

“There are approximately 120 students in this year’s Year 10 group but this is estimated to be around only 50 in next year’s.”

Headteacher Dr Stuart Wilson said: “Rawmarsh Community School has had to reduce the number of staff to reflect the reduction of secondary age children living in the Rawmarsh area.

“These regrettable reductions have been spread over all subjects and all non-teaching sections within the school. 

“The new curriculum values and curriculum structure on which these cuts were based reflect current and future student need and national priorities.

“The cuts within the technology department occurred as a consequence of this as well as addressing an unsustainable student contact ratio. 

“Having recently gone through the Option Choices for Year 9 students, we can confirm that no child has been discouraged from opting to take a technology subject and every student who has opted for a technology subject has been granted it. 

“We have every confidence that the new technology team will provide high quality and enjoyable education for all our students, with an increased emphasis on enterprise and entrepreneurial skills.”

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