Daily Blog – Leading Teachers International Study Visits Eger, Hungary Day 3 Wednesday 27th May

Daily Blog – Leading Teachers International Study Visits Eger, Hungary
Day 3 Wednesday 27th May
KEY POINTS SUMMARY
• Most concepts are reinforced through two or more lively activities e.g. sorting cards/pictures/slips of paper/magnetic re-ordering of words or pictures on the board.

• Teachers all seem committed to the concept of discussing and collaborating to reinforce new learning (Vigotsky) We saw snappy mixed group work in almost every lesson so far.
• Correct forms of words are insisted on when children answer questions in class. Clear thinking processes are confirmed through this vocabulary development.

• We are very impressed by teachers who were teaching so well with a huge audience at the back row of the lessons (our party plus senior staff – sometimes a dozen observers)
Lecture from Assistant Education Director of the town of Miskolc
• Children stay at school until 18 or 21
• High achievers can be moved from primary to secondary at 10, 12 or 14 years old
• First aim of early years education is the development of social skills
• All teachers must complete an accredited CPD programme after every 5 years during their career, at least 120 hours. This is on top of normal teaching duties.
• The National Core Curriculum requires all to study the following up to age 18: Hungarian, History, Maths and either English or German and an option subject. These must be passed to get a general school certificate
Team 1 Szilagyi Erzsebet Primary School Visit
1. Fast turnover of activities in all lessons that we saw – none longer than 5 minutes – moved on at the pace of the fastest finishers
2. Children worked in pairs, small groups and individually – this rotation was repeated two or three times during the lesson and without any fuss from the children
3. Very small class sizes – 15 to 21

Team 2 Ferenczi Vocational School of Health Care
The school did not care to use the word ‘vocational’ – they felt they were something else. 20% go on to University. The English language teacher did not understand our questions about managing negative behaviour as it is totally normal for all students to behave well; the issue of poor discipline seems not to exist.
Nearly all students are in full time education until they are 21. This is partly due to minimal employment and no welfare benefits for school leavers. Vocational schools are chosen by parents, the most academic go to grammar schools, then Higher Education; this school seemed to offer courses post 18 which are chosen to Further Education
There is a commitment that all must succeed and that all can be successful. This is the dominant culture of the school. As in all schools visited students are frequently working on the board and explaining their answers to the whole group and learning to present ideas clearly. Almost entire lesson involved use of the interactive whiteboard.
We saw a class of 15 year olds working at AS level in Maths yet this school does not have the most able (that group attends grammar schools). Fantastic facilities – new buildings, state of the art technology, spacious Atrium for students to gather and socialise, and doubles as a hall for performances and exhibition space. The facilities were well used – not only for 14 – 18 education but also training courses for 18-21 year olds. A highly trained work force for nurses, physiotherapist, paramedics, pharmacists and other health related employment.
The students seem more ready and engaged to learn at a point where many of our students are getting disengaged and disaffected. Is this because they have not been rushed and forced through an inappropriate curriculum at an early age? (As in UK) Students do not ask “Why do I need to know this?” Even for students studying a theoretical topic – transformation of graphs in maths – for 15 year olds. They seem to see the intrinsic value of education. They consider education to be a privilege not a right. Students did not have part-time jobs. Perhaps this is why they were so focused on their studies. More-so, it is understood that they will not get a job without passing their GCE School Certificate at age 18 and as there are no state benefits until you have been working; there is more incentive here to pass.
In the afternoon we were treated with a visit to the world famous Cave Bath in Miskolctapoica. There we enjoyed the curative natural health spring waters by bathing in the thermal water of the natural Cave Bath. This outing was refreshing for all and we all felt rejuvenated and reinvigorated by the experience. Miskolc is also a town full of cultural festivals and leisure activities ranging from walking trails to a meat jelly festival!