Phrases related to the topic

below/above average intelligence	to be a number
bacis skills	mixed-ability classes
the three R’s	a socially divisive institution
a selective school/education	extra curricular activities
a school-leaver	a fee-paying institution
to get a first	a graduate-level job
child/learner-centred approach	a non-government school
literacy and numeracy	liberal education
to stuff with knowledge	tertiary education
GCSE	to be (come) up to scratch
perfect command of the language	to scrape through exam/school/college
to make the school fit the child	to stretch a student
a trainee teacher	to play to the student’s strengths
to be up to the job	teacher turnover
statewide testing	a high rate of employability
to go on for higher education	employment prospects
to sit for public/entrance examinations	to penalize students
core subjects	to meet standards, requirements
a school syllabus	to implement reforms, exams
the right opening	job seekers
corporal punishment	graduation exams
vocation oriented courses	a parent/teacher meeting
to load teachers down with paper work	to advance to a new grade
to lower the passing score	comprehensive school/system/training
promotion requirements	vocationally relevant subjects
to catch up with the peers	on-campus/workplace training
dropout prevention	disruptive behaviour/ pupil

Educational Challenges

Speech Functions Bank

F – Formal

Inf – Informal

Asking for More Detailed Information

F Inf	I wonder if you could explain about X in (rather) how you do more detail?
Could I ask you a little more about X how you do …
I’m afraid I’m not quite clear about X how you do …
I’m interested in knowing more about X
How (exactly) do you do…?
Could you fill me in a bit on X how you do …..?
Can you put me in the picture about X?