I really hate the way schools here place students in classes according to (perceived) academic ability. Hate it hate it hate it. It's such a circular thing - teachers have high expectations of the children in the top sets, so, by and large, the students live up to those expectations. And they have low expectations of the bottom sets, and the students generally live up to those expectations too. It breaks my heart to see those bottom-set children who actually want to learn gradually abandoning their attempts to work amidst the rowdiness and bad behaviour of the rest of the class and surrendering to the prevailing ethos.

The teachers feel that this system makes teaching easier - they'll be able to pitch lessons at the right level if they separate out the ability groups. Well, that does make some sense for the advanced students. It is good if they have the space to really be extended. But in my opinion, it makes absolutely no sense to bundle all the children who aren't doing well together, when they have such varied issues. The children with Aspergers, the children with ADHD, the children with dyslexia, the children who're acting out because they have horrible home lives, the children whose English is really poor - they all have completely different educational needs, so I just don't see that it helps either them or the teachers to lump them all together.

Anyway.

Oddly enough despite my rage at the inequities of school system, and at their obsession with standardised testing (the Year 9s are writing their SATs at the moment, amidst much angst and drama) I enjoyed work today. I helped with the reading focus groups - working with a small group of the younger children. I'm hoping - it's been suggested to me - that I might coordinate a similar maths group. I think that could be a really worthwhile thing; could hopefully help some of the children get some key concepts straight so we could avoid situations like one I encountered today, where a 16 year old boy simply didn't know what an even number is.

No progress on the house. The sellers are being uncommunicative about their progress (or lack thereof) in finding a new place of their own. This is not a good sign. Not good at all, in fact. Ugh.

Other ongoing chores and stresses ...

Stephen wants to change his subject choices for next year, which is necessitating much tedious grovelling by us to the head of his sixth-form college.

Bobby has to phone our car insurance company. A few months ago he was involved in an incredibly minor accident. He tapped - just literally tapped - the car in front of him at a stop street. Absolutely no damage to either car - it was literally the teeniest touch imaginable; our car was barely moving when it happened. And no possibility of injury to anyone; I really can't believe that the woman in the other car even felt anything. However, we got a letter from the insurance company today to say that she's filing a personal injury claim, so he has to put his side of the story forward. The whole thing seems completely ridiculous to me.

He also needs to renew his passport, and it seems that the best way to do this is to actually visit the South African consulate in London. I have a horrible feeling that that will suck up the best part of a day.

And today I got a letter which says it's time for my next pap smear. I think it's utterly unfair that there doesn't seem to be an equivalent procedure for men.