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The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 231 • November 19 2009 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com
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Life in the inner city Minister hints at single
grade for Report Card
Exclusive
by Chris Parr
Schools minister Vernon Coaker has
Life as a teacher in the inner
said the government is “minded” to
city can be tough, and can
introduce a single grade on the
School Report Card, even though
push many to the edge.
schools only started piloting the
Emma Lee Potter meets one
proposals this term.
teacher who has decided to Speaking at the National College
write about her experiences
for Leadership of Schools and
Page 15
Children’s Services’ New Heads
conference last week, Mr Coaker
SEN behaviour
admitted that the issue was caus-
ing a certain amount of debate, but
We look at best practice
confirmed that ministers were still
“minded to include a single overall
when it comes to managing
grade”.
behaviour, including a focus
When SecEd pushed Mr Coaker
on SEN students on the issue at the conference, the
Page 13 minister dismissed claims that a sin-
gle grade would over-simplify the a single grade is included in the secretary of the Association of tion cycles to have the same grade inevitably focus on a nice, simple
Fun in lessons!
way schools are judged, insisting final version of the cards, which are School and College Leaders, said for a huge amount of time. If it is grade to tell them all they think they
that the card would offer a “broad currently being piloted in around he was opposed to a single grade, not tied to Ofsted, then differing need to know from the report card.”
Karen Sullivan believes that
measure of a school’s successes”. 350 schools across England, this and that it was far too early for min- overall grades would be confusing He also pointed out that if the
having a bit of fun in class
He added: “Parents are more will not only dissuade parents from isters to be deciding if such a move for parents, and for schools, and overall grade was connected to the
is crucial to developing
mature, and will not simply look at looking in detail at school perform- was appropriate. would create a lack of clarity.” new Ofsted framework, then an
one grade when selecting a school. ance, but will also clash with Ofsted “Only when we know what Ministers announced its plans entire cohort of pupils could pass
children’s lifeskills. She offers
They will look at the different com- – which already gives schools an aspects the card will cover will it be to introduce the New York-style through a secondary school in the
a few simple ideas
ponents of the card, and make their overall rating. sensible to decide how they can be School Report Card last year, in a time between school gradings.
Pages 8 and 9 decisions on the overall picture.” Reacting to Mr Coaker’s com- combined,” he added. bid to offer parents a more detailed Mike Griffiths, headteacher at
But headteachers claim that if ments, Dr John Dunford, general The pilot began this term and will overview of how each school is Northampton School for Boys,
SecEd digital
run until spring 2011. Headteachers performing. The Department for said the idea of a single grade was
at two of the schools involved also Children, Schools and Families is “demeaning” to the work going
and Twitter
questioned Mr Coaker’s comments currently undertaking consultation on in schools and would have a
when contacted by SecEd this week. meetings with the pilot schools disastrous effect on parental per-
Jacques Szemalikowski, head at to finalise the exact details to be ceptions. He said: “Many parents
Thousands of teachers are
Hampstead School in London, said: included on the card. will inevitably choose their school
“If the minister really thinks that It has been mooted that these on the basis of this single number
reading SecEddigital, a virtual
parents are mature and intelligent will include issues such as pupil rather than visiting schools, reading
edition of SecEd, which is
enough to look in detail at what is achievement, health and wellbeing, prospectuses and considering the
emailed out every week. on the School Report Card, then and attendance, as well as a school’s (whole) scorecard.
You can sign up for free by
why have an overall grade at all? It SEN provision and leadership. “In New York, some 85 per cent
emailing editor@sec-ed.co.uk.
is contradictory.” Other headteachers also com- of schools are awarded the top two
SecEd news and features are
Hill One grade? Schools minister A second headteacher, who mented this week. Chris Dunne, grades, making the overall grade
Vernon Coaker (left) asked not to be named, added: “We head at Langdon Park School in pretty meaningless,” he added.
now also available on Twitter. Steve
speaking last week about don’t yet know whether the single London, said: “In the same way that Mr Coaker has urged heads to
You can follow us at www.
the School Report Card. An grade will be tied to Ofsted ratings. students rarely take as much notice get in touch with his department if
0910004 NASUWT Advert:Layout 1 09/10/2009 16:10 Page 4
twitter.com/SecEd_Education
example of how the cards If it is, then there is the potential for of a teacher’s commentary as they they have further feedback about
Photograph: might look is shown above schools on four or five-year inspec- do of the grade given, parents will the proposals.
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UK news
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Psycho babble
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Teach it like Torno!
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NQT diary
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Managing ICT
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Notes and jottings
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At the chalkface
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