Progressives took a hit when Britain’s equivalent of a charter school turned in test results four times better than their nation’s average, The Federalist reported.
Michaela is a controversial “free school,” meaning it does not charge tuition for the poor but does expect high standards.
But it turns out those high standards get good results. In the recent GCSE exams, a national exam for 15- and 16-year-olds that determines their future academic trajectory, Michaela scored four times better than the national average and other schools, state-funded, private, and community schools included. These were the first GCSE results for the school since it started five years ago.
Even the ultra-liberal Guardian, which constantly opposes all authority, discipline, and order, had to meekly report, “Compared with other non-selective state schools, Michaela’s results rank among the best in the country. More than half (54%) of all grades were level 7 or above (equivalent to the old-style A and A*), which was more than twice the national average of 22%. Nearly one in five (18%) of all grades were 9s, compared with 4.5% nationally, and in maths, one in four results were level 9.” To non-Brits confused about the terminology, understand this as peak performance.
Michaela’s website is here.
They say, “At Michaela Community School, we believe wholeheartedly in building lasting relationships with our pupils, and we hope when they have left us after the Sixth Form, that they will return to visit, to give assemblies, and to discuss ideas about how we can further improve education at the school.”
Student behavior is another expectation.
The education provided at Michaela is broadly traditional and academically rigorous. We expect our pupils to be polite and obedient. We encourage competition and allow our pupils to win and lose. We believe that knowledge about the world is central to our pupils’ success. Only when they have acquired this knowledge will they be ready to lead and participate as full citizens.
Michaela has a number of rules, including silence in the hallways and a strict “no excuses” policy when pupils receive detention for coming one minute late, The Telegraph said.
That compares to increasing issues at many American public schools, such as in Nashville.
“Chaos” is one word used by a teacher to describe student behavior in Metro Nashville Schools during a shocking town hall discussion hosted by Phil Williams of NewsChannel 5, The Tennessee Star reported. The problem is being made worse by policies to reduce students serving suspensions.
The Metro Nashville district does not respect teachers’ opinions and does not give them resources to handle troubled students, they said. One shared how her principal laughed over her receiving a death threat.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
