Well Ake's right about one thing.

We need to stop flogging a dead horse with school curriculums.

back in 1970's a Canadian teacher came on exchange to our school in Brum. Lots of kids from very poor backgrounds.

i remember him saying, 'your system is crazy - you keep on banging on with academic subjects with kids, long after its obvious that nothing in their background is going to help them get it. you should teach practical subjects - some life skills that will be of some use to them.'

of course after Keith Joseph and the national curriculum - things got even worse. children who could hardly spell simple words were required to be studying two foreign languages.

of course workshops and kitchens and all the things that would be required would cost money. involved in providing such vocational training would cost money. and you couldn't fiddle the expense with a huge paper trail - like previous investment in education.