Stories + Views: Curriculum, Exams & Qualifications

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Janet Downs: Look at how schools enrich learning and develop “independence, spirit of enquiry and practical skills” as well as exam success, says new report

“…the vision for the student experience includes high expectations for examination success, but it should also acknowledge the ways in which education enriches learning and develops students’ independence, spirit of enquiry and practical skills.” So ends the introduction to a selection of essays published by the Wellcome Institute. The report, entitled “Effects from Accountabilities”, contains contributions from, among others, Andreas Schleicher ... read more and comment →

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Janet Downs: The consultation didn’t finish until 16 April but schools minister talks as if the National Curriculum is already set in stone

Will there be any additional funding for continuing professional development and classroom resources to support implementing the new National Curriculum? That was the question asked by Tory MP, Craig Whittaker yesterday. But the consultation about the proposed curriculum only finished last week. Surely there hasn’t been sufficient time to read and analyse all the submissions? That didn’t stop schools minister, Elizabeth Truss, ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Tubby - I've no idea why cross-curricular themes were dropped. There was this announcement (sometime in the early 90s I think) about cross-curricular themes being "glue". I was given the dubious title of "i/c cross-curricular themes" and did ......"

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Roger Titcombe: High Performing Schools Failing Poorest Pupils

This story was in the i of 23 April. Schools Minister David Laws is bemoaning the poor performance of poor pupils in high performing schools in the richest areas of the country. He claims these schools are pocketing the Pupil Premium and that schools in areas of high deprivation do better with poor pupils. He says, "To have 65 percent of poor ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Alan: "There are outliers to 1 if you happen to be a parent like me who didn't do so well at school but who refuses to give in for one's own children. But I deeply resent how difficult it has been. ......"

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Janet Downs: Today’s pupils are aspirational and an exam system should motivate not demoralise them, academics concluded

The Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment (OUCEA) has summarised research evidence which relates to proposed reforms of GCSE. OUCEA found: 1 International test data shows no decline in the performance of English students 2 International test data can’t simply be taken at face value and need to be interpreted carefully. 3 Grade inflation at GCSE hasn’t been established. (a) Rises in grades might ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Gratton Mulcrow: "A very useful summary. Many thanks Janet...."

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Fiona Millar: Labour and schools

The Observer newspaper carried a couple of  articles at the weekend about an alleged mid-term wobble  for Labour. This seemed to be largely based on a slight drop in the opinion polls, a few attacks from  ageing Blairites and George Osborne's intervention in the welfare debate using the horrific story of the Derby benefit claimant who set fire to his ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Where are the dangerous ideas in education? Go to the Dangerous Ideas Festival to find out… | talesbehindtheclassroomdoor: "[...] be a place where good practice could be modelled. Or perhaps if they’re not keen on this, as Fiona Millar has suggested, a blueprint for co-operative schools could be established and put forward as a proper alternative. [...]..."

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Janet Downs: Concern over curriculum proposals inspires petition asking Gove to address these issues instead of saying, “Yada, Yada”.

A petition calling on Education Secretary Michael Gove to address concerns about the proposed curriculum made headlines in the Independent last week. The petition raised several issues: 1 Three of the four experts on the advisory panel for the National Curriculum had resigned because Gove both ignored and misrepresented their concerns. 2 Gove ignores the comprehensive and independent Cambridge Review of the Primary ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Sally: "Research this conversion and you will see why I have shared this petition. If you choose not to agree then simply dont sign it. Thanks for your time...."

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Roger Titcombe: Grade Inflation

In addressing the astonishing grade inflation that has been a feature of the English education system since 1988 it is informative to consider the proportion of the normal cognitive ability distribution (percentile) that historically each grade was meant to reflect. Henry should be very familiar with these data as the school of which he is Chair of Governors is part ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by stephen: "I am a bit puzzled by the reference to GCE grades A-C. i did my o levels in 1974 with the Joint Matriculation Board i tthink, and thr GCE grades were 1-9, 1 being best and 6 a pass if i ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Will the EBacc lead to a narrowing of the curriculum? Ex school minister wants to bring back 1908 exams…

I debated the issue of the English Baccalaureate at the Spectator's schools conference this week with the ex-schools minister Nick Gibb, an Oxford classicist, and Anthony Seldon. The debate was perhaps most notable for the argument I had with Nick Gibb, which I've already blogged about here. The substance of it is worth considering in depth because I believe it ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Francis Gilbert: "Thanks for informing us about this, I'll look into this, and yes, I would be interested in knowing more, I'll email you!..."

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Henry Stewart: The Myth of Grade Inflation: Why English GCSE A-Cs Should be Higher

This week's TES has a comprehensive article by William Stewart on GCSE grading, asking if exam results will ever rise again. This explains the introduction of "comparable outcomes", that grades are not just based upon actual student performance in the exam but on benchmarking to that cohort's previous Key Stage 2 results. Does this mean that there is no possibility of ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Henry Stewart: "The view that GCSE exams have not been dumbed down has been backed up by research fom Oxford University: http://bit.ly/12PBC5N "Evidence does not point to a general pattern of decline in cognitive demand of examination questions."..."

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Janet Downs: School leavers who don’t get 5 GCSEs grade C are still eligible for elementary level jobs, says ONS. So they can’t be “functionally illiterate” then, can they?

In 2012, 97.8% of Year 11 pupils in state-maintained mainstream schools* in England took GCSEs (about 539,000 candidates). 97.1% of these gained 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) graded A*-G. 95.1% passed 5 GCSEs A*-G (or equivalent) including Maths and English. The lower grade GCSEs (D-G) and their vocational equivalents are Level One qualifications. This level will gain entry to what the Office ... read more and comment →

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