My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

The farce of GCSE reforms continues - National Reference Tests

16 replies

noblegiraffe · 19/08/2016 16:57

So after deciding mid-course that they aren't actually sure how to set the number of students achieving a grade 8 and 9, there are now signs that the National Reference Test, which was to be used in future years to set grade boundaries may end up being scrapped.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-why-exam-grades-may-never-rocket-again

OP posts:
Report
YokoUhOh · 19/08/2016 17:01

Christ. I'm currently on (second) mat leave but am thinking of giving up my HoD position (small dept) when I go back as I can't face all the data/scrutiny and just want to teach. I have no idea how I'm going to predict GCSE grades when I go back.

Report
teachersaspirations · 29/08/2016 17:47

I noticed that there was an admission of grade inflation
at long last!
maybe they should just stop grade inflation rather trying to reverse it

Report
noblegiraffe · 29/08/2016 17:57

They can't simultaneous demand improved performance from schools and artificially supress the grade boundaries, that's just not fair.

OP posts:
Report
teachersaspirations · 29/08/2016 18:16

the goal is to achieve improved performance without grade inflation
I don't know the best way for that to be done

speaking as an independent neither the government nor the teachers seem to know how to do that

each blame the other and that has been the case for as long as I can remember

Report
noblegiraffe · 29/08/2016 18:19

But improved performance is measured by improved exam performance.

Edexcel were forced by Ofqual to increase the C grade boundary this year. Exam performance is decided by politics, not by actual exam performance. Children are only allowed to do as well as they were predicted to do 5 years ago.

OP posts:
Report
teachersaspirations · 29/08/2016 19:36

if we want to see improvement
then we have to measure
how to improve without grade inflation is what we need

parents want an apolitical solution (apolitical government and apolitical teachers)

Report
noblegiraffe · 29/08/2016 19:39

So you want grade deflation? Worse grades for better knowledge?

OP posts:
Report
EllyMayClampett · 29/08/2016 20:16

Perhaps we need a measure against a baseline in time and a measure of where a particular student falls within their cohort?

Report
noblegiraffe · 29/08/2016 21:05

What do you mean, Elly? We currently have KS2 results as a baseline, and exam results showing where they fall in the cohort?

OP posts:
Report
Thegiantofillinois · 29/08/2016 21:09

We need accurate ks2 data for a start. Oh, you got a level 5 in primary school and have an aspirational target of A*? Then why can't you use punctuation or write coherently now you're here?

Report
Effic · 29/08/2016 21:41

It's fucking simple from where I stand - you can't have 100% of children all passing bloody 5 x GCSEs at grade C or above! Once we accept that and accept that some children have different skills and talents that need to be nurtured and VALUED then the whole exam fiasco goes on.
Same cycle about every 10 years. Exam results peak and flat line but aren't as good as Finland/Sweden or more lately Singapore/China or wherever else in the world the govt decide to compare with. Some business group or other are trotted out by our delightful teacher bashing media to tell us all how appalling the levels of literacy/numeracy are in school leavers and everyone over the age of 35 agrees ("wasn't like this in my day") No one ever seems to comment how one of the smallest countries in the world continues to have the 3/4/5th largest economy in the entire world despite producing such apparent half-wits - this is never explained!
So a new Govt will bring in new exam to "raise standards". These are written by which every lackeys are currently in favour, bought in too quickly, with no training for teachers and loaded with errors etc so there is a crash in standards. Govt use this as "proof" that teachers are rubbish, lazy etc. Everyone agrees that "it's not like it was in their day" and the teachers are to blame. In the following years, teachers get to grips with the new exam and curriculum so more children pass when teachers know what they are supposed to be doing - they'll be more successful at getting children who can to pass. The govt however claim sole credit for raising standards through their (shite) policy. About 5 years in, results flat line because if an exam is worth the paper it's printed on, then really about 65% of children passing is about right isn't it? I mean there are about 20% of children on the SEN register - are teachers and parents making that figure up?? Sure some children are on it for EBD needs and so, with the right support, can pass but most are on for Learning difficulties and they aren't going to pass a maths GSCE unlss you lower the pass mark. They can however be awesome care assistants, plumbers, electricians, beauticians etc but we don't give a shit about that because we only care about gcse's and sending every child to university to take increasingly worthless degrees. Successive Govts demand more children pass so grade inflation occurs until the new govt decrees that teachers are all lazy, useless bastards and we don't compare to wherever etc etc and we begin again and introduce a "new curriculum" and " tougher exam" to "raise standards" AGAIN.
And off we go again!! During these time, the teaching profession leaves in droves but no one gives a fuck because we get 13 weeks holiday so we are "lucky" and have no idea about "real work"
Sigh

Report
teachersaspirations · 29/08/2016 22:50

as a parent (not a teacher or a government spokesman)
I wonder why the local school has approx 65% that get a C or above in maths
so that is over 1/3 of the kids get less than a C in maths (with C being approx 50%)
it is in a reasonably well offish area with no obvious socio-economic issues
if we consider non SEN (only to simplify the discussion)
is that good enough for our kids?
or is it the the cohort of kids
or is it the cohort of parents
or is it the cohort of teachers

Report
honeysucklejasmine · 29/08/2016 22:56

You can't ask that question then say "let's consider non SEN" as unfortunately they probably make up a decent amount of that 1/3. Unless I have misunderstood you? It's the Gove Paradox. How can everyone be above average? Someone has to get less than a C or a C is worthless.

OP it's a complete shit show. Also on mat leave from teaching and haven't got a clue what's going on. Research required, but it sounds like no-one else knows anyway!

Report
BoneyBackJefferson · 29/08/2016 23:00

teachersaspirations

You can't only consider "non SEN" and not give the percentage for children without SEN that got a C or above.

In the same way that no knowing the % SEN, FSM etc. when asking why only 65%.

You would have to look at the context in its entirety or not bother.

Report
noblegiraffe · 29/08/2016 23:02

teacher You can dig down deeper into that headline figure on this website: www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

So you can look at the school, how many kids are making expected progress in maths. Then you can look at performance by prior attainment at KS2 - if a school has a high proportion of high attainers, then it is easier for them to make the expected progress.

Also under the secondary tab under the bar charts it says 'compare this school with similar schools' and you can see how your school ranks against other schools with a similar intake for KS2 results (it also highlights those with a similar FSM profile).

If you look at the absence and pupil population tab you can see whether the school has more SEN or FSM pupils than average.

OP posts:
Report
teachersaspirations · 29/08/2016 23:11

ok thanks for the extra info on SEN & FSM
i will go away and have a look

I think I give up
good night

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.