www.sec-ed.com News
Professor calls
In brief
experimental play
National School Grounds
Week, which runs from June
8, is urging UK schools to help
for change in
children get their recommended
60 minutes of daily physical
activity. Learning through
Landscapes, the charity which
runs the event, is inviting schools
to participate in The Big Play
Experiment by registering on its
exam grading
website and downloading a free
resource pack of activities. Visit:
www.ltl.org.uk/nsgw.htm
Fair Trade uniforms
A survey of young people has
by Chris Parr
the same student could have got a but if you want certainty, then the revealed that many believe more
very different score. tests would need to be eight times Fair Trade products should
“Therefore, I would like to see longer.” be available, including school
Exam marks should be given as a grading system that reflects this, Kathleen Tattersall, chief regula- uniforms. A survey by student
a percentage score rather than the and the mark would point out that tor of Ofqual, used her speech to hit campaigning organisation People
traditional A* to F grades, a leading the student’s level lies somewhere back at recent press reports claim- & Planet, released on World
educationalist has claimed. between 57 and 73 per cent.” ing that Ofqual thought the new Fair Trade Day on Saturday
Professor Dylan Wiliam, deputy Speaking to attendees at the Diploma qualification had been (May 9), has shown that many
director at the Institute of Education unveiling of Ofqual’s inaugural introduced too hastily, since it was young people support ethical
in London, says that single grades annual report, Prof Wiliam said it not subject to new piloting proce- purchasing, but are dissatisfied
are misleading, and that the imper- was time to “dispel the myth” that dures outlined in its annual report. with the current limitations and
fections of assessment mean they exam grades could ever be totally She said that although in future the emphasis on food and drink.
can give an inaccurate picture of a reliable. new qualifications would be Nearly 70 per cent of those
pupil’s attainment. He said: “With tests that only expected to undergo stricter pilots, surveyed would like school
Report suggests
Prof Wiliam told SecEd that he address a certain number of topics involving them being trialled for uniforms to be Fair Trade. Visit:
would rather see students awarded out of a syllabus, there is always two years prior to full rollout, this www.peopleandplanet.org/
a mark as a percentage, with parents the chance that a student happens did not mean the introduction of the tradejustice
and employers told that this mark to revise the particular five topics Diploma had been rushed.
transition has
could be subject to an eight per cent that come up, and they may do very Ms Tattersall added: “The points
swing in either direction. well. In this scenario, you are mark- we make about piloting qualifi-
writing challenge
He said: “If a student receives ing pupils not on knowledge, but on cations are looking forwards, not Booktrust is inviting young
65 per cent, then the imperfections how lucky they are.” backwards. The new procedures set writers to enter a short story
negative impact
of assessment mean that on a differ- He continued: “It is possible out in the report are not intended as competition to win a place on the
ent day, or with a different marker, to increase the reliability of tests, a sideways swipe at the Diploma.” judging panel for its Booktrust
Teenage Prize 2009. The charity
on science
Union leader warns against
wants writers aged 11 to 16 to
write a 500-word short story with
the title President for a Day. The
authors of the four best stories
The transition from primary teaching styles between the pri-
a single grade for schools
will win a place on the judging
panel, joining Times journalist
to secondary school can be mary and secondary sector. Alyson Rudd and author Marcus
detrimental to pupils’ attainment Martin Braund from the Sedgwick among others. The
in science, it has been claimed. University of York urges primary Ministers have been urged not deadline for entries is July 27.
A report by the Wellcome and secondary teachers to share introduce a single grade for schools Visit: www.bookheads.org.uk
Trust, a biomedical research ideas on best practice in order as part of the new report cards.
charity, claims that while most to prevent repetition, and to give Dr John Dunford, general secre-
children find the move from pri- recognition to the work they have tary of the Association of Teachers
New NUT leader
mary to secondary school rela- done at primary school. and Lecturers, believes the cards Christine Blower has been
tively easy to deal with, many And Anne Diack from the have the potential to better reflect elected unopposed as the new
experience a “sustained negative Commission for Architecture and the performance of a school, but general secretary of the National
impact” on their attainment and the Built Environment recom- claims that a single grade is unnec- Union of Teachers. Ms Blower
attitude, with the dip in interest mends having separate areas for essary, as Ofsted already judges became acting general secretary
most pronounced in science. younger children in large second- schools in this way. after Steve Sinnott, the former
The report also raises concerns ary schools, and also suggests The report cards, to be detailed general secretary, passed away
that once students have been put that large-scale changes in school fully in a government White Paper after suffering a heart attack in
off science, it is very difficult to structures – such as “all-through” next month, will mark schools on a April last year. Ms Blower joined
re-engage them in the subject. schools – may also help to smooth range of topics, from the wellbeing the union as a student, and taught
Professor Derek bell, head of out transition. of students to attendance rates. at schools including St Edmunds
education at the Wellcome Trust, Prof Bell said it was imperative Dr Dunford said: “A decision Secondary School in Fulham,
said: “The fact that secondary that secondary schools were aware now about a single grade for the and Quintin Kynaston School in
schools are introducing the new of what pupils had covered at key report card would be premature. Westminster.
key stage 3 programmes of study stage 2, and that these achieve- The first task is to decide what com-
means it is vital we get every- ments were “respected, in order to ponents will be in the report card,
one thinking now about how to build on them throughout second- then there is the complex issue of
exam advice
improve the transition period and ary school and beyond”. how each should be measured. that the report cards should replace wellbeing. But without an over- Headteachers from the Girls’
ensure children maintain the high He added: “Significant “We do not want to see the whole league tables as the “heart of school all score or grade on the report School Association have
levels of interest and achievement progress has been made over the performance of a school reduced accountability”. card, it is very hard to see how published an online guide
in science they generally have at years to improve transition, but to a single grade. Schools already Ed Balls, minister for children, it can allow appropriate compari- to help parents support their
primary school.” the major outstanding issue seems have this – the Ofsted judgement schools and families, said that he sons between schools to be made, children during the impending
The report comprises three to be that secondary schools do – and it would be taking the pursuit accepted the group’s recommenda- that take account of the range of exam period. The tips on the
different perspectives on how not always value pupils’ achieve- of simplicity too far to pretend that tions, and suggested that a single schools’ work.” Association website are aimed at
transition affects science study. ments from primary school but a single grade can summarise the grade ranking would be introduced. He added: “While some have parents of their member schools
Professor Maurice Galton of adopt a ‘clean slate’ approach, whole performance of the school,” He said: “I know there are strong said that league tables should be – independent girls’ schools in
Cambridge University claims that which can lead to children having he added. views around whether the report ‘banned’, this is simply not an England, Scotland and Wales
the main reason for dissatisfaction to repeat work they have already The government’s Expert Group card should be based on a single option as all the data is rightly in – but offer general advice on
among year 7s is the difference in done at primary school.” on Assessment, which published grade or a combination of grades the public domain – and will con- how parents can not only help
its report last week, recommended measuring attainment, progress and tinue to be so.” their children, but also how they
can cope and survive themselves.
Staff and parents praised for reaction to swine flu
Visit: www.mydaughter.co.uk
Make me laugh!
A senior leader at Alleyn’s School have had plenty to keep them busy school opened today (Monday, May infection. The child is recovering Russell Sullivan confirmed that all Children aged up to 13 are
in London – which was hit by while we were closed. Every sub- 11), and we are back to normal. well at home and is on treatment. parents of year 8 pupils would be being asked to write a poem to
six cases of swine flu and forced ject taught at the school had some The year 7 girl who was originally “The (HPA) advice is that the receiving Tamiflu. make people laugh as part of a
to close last week – has praised work online – something that was diagnosed is also back at school, fit school should close, with imme- Meanwhile, the exams regulator, new competition. The winning
the reaction of staff, parents and particularly important for our exam- and well.” diate effect, for seven days until Ofqual, has said that the exam system verse will be included in a
pupils after the school re-opened for level students.” However, this week Hampton Monday (May 18).” was currently running as normal. A commemorative book of poems
business on Monday (May 11). Along with Alleyn’s, Paignton School – an independent boys’ school Elsewhere, Castle View School spokesman said: “We are confident selected by famous personalities,
Antony Faccinello said he was Community and Sports College in in Middlesex – closed for a week on in Essex closed after a year 8 stu- that the existing plans that awarding which will be published later
“amazed” at the reaction of teach- Devon, Downend School in South the advice of the Health Protection dent, who had visited Mexico, was bodies have in place are more than this year to mark The Children’s
ers, who published work on the Gloucestershire, and Dolphin Agency (HPA), after a student who confirmed as having contracted adequate to cope with the current Trust’s 25th anniversary. There
school’s website to allow pupils to School in Battersea, also re-opened had returned from travelling in a the H1N1 virus. As SecEd went level of flu outbreak. Awarding bod- is a 100-word limit and the
keep up-to-date with their studies this week following closures. “high-risk area” fell ill. to press, two other year 8 students ies have well established procedures deadline is the end of June. Visit:
while the school was closed. Jane English, head at Paignton A statement from the school were undergoing tests on suspected in place which are capable of coping www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/
He told us: “The children were – the first school forced to close read: “A pupil in the first year has cases. with significant levels of disruption poetrycompetition
delighted to return to school, but its doors – said: “As expected, the been diagnosed with influenza A A statement from headteacher to the exam system.”
SecEd • May 14 2009 
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