NEWS FOCUS
www.sec-ed.com
SecEd: On Your Side
Pay schools to take
the disadvantaged?
“Pay London’s schools
to take the pupils with the
Pete
greatest need.”
Henshaw
Unsurprisingly, this email
Editor
subject line was what caught
SecEd
my attention most this week.
The comment was made by Professor Kathryn Riley,
the new director of the London Education Research Unit
(LERU) at the Institute of Education, who says that market
forces are undermining a “healthy social mix” in schools.
Her solution got me thinking, once again, about
admissions and the idea of parental choice of school. The
admissions debate is one that fascinates me and I find that
it sums up, perhaps rather sadly, the intricate and enigmatic
nature of our society.
Stopping the cheats
We all talk about the importance of fair access to
education and of social and cultural harmony and
GIvEn THE headlines splashed question papers early without
integration, and many of us herald comprehensive
across the national press last week, While there were 4,500 exam authorisation, allowing candidates
education; but when it comes to our own kids, it’s every you could be forgiven for thinking
parent for themselves, and those with money can usually
that your classrooms are packed to
cheats caught last year, this in fact
to sit an examination at an incorrect
time, and (a) lack of appropriate
secure places at the so-called “best” schools, in the process
the rafters with exam cheats.
“4,500 cheats caught,” said
represents only 0.03 per cent of
invigilation”, the report said.
a spokesman for the department
creating so-called “sink” schools.
The Metro. “Mobile phones
and this is the problem we have – when the ethos of a
exam scripts. Chris Parr reports
for Children, schools and Families
drive increase in exam cheating” said that cheating was “extremely
comprehensive education goes out of the window, we will echoed The Guardian, with similar rare”.
always end up with a system skewed to suit the richest
headlines gracing a number of other exam, while 1,616 got away with and have finished. We train them “We are absolutely clear that
parents.
national newspapers as well as the a warning. and are very hard on them in year any kind of cheating in exams is
BBC. Mike stewart, headteacher at 9 exams so that they are ready for unacceptable and that centres, staff
despite this, Prof Riley’s research at LERU shows
Even the Financial Times got Westlands school in Torbay, said the big ones.” and students should get the grades
that young Londoners who attend schools with diverse
in on the act, pointing out – quite there was growing concern about Teachers were also under the that reflect the work that they have
populations are more likely to value that cultural mix.
accurately – that instances of the market that has “sprung up” microscope after the ofqual figures put in,” he added.
However, she said last week that “class and ethnic
a level and GCsE cheating had to support students who want to revealed a 30 per cent rise in the an ofqual spokesman said:
divisions between communities have grown across
risen six per cent compared to the cheat. number of invigilators disciplined “any kind of cheating in exams,
previous year. He told SecEd: “There are for exam malpractice. be it use of mobile phones,
London’s schools in recent years”.
However, a key statistic that was plagiarism sites, sites selling off on 88 occasions, exam communicating with other
she blames market forces, the way parental choice is not emphasised was that cheating work, and also gadget companies. invigilators were found guilty of candidates or copying their work,
operated, and “the division between specialist and non-
took place in just 0.03 per cent only today I received an email not following guidelines by helping compromises the integrity of the
specialist schools with the latter taking more students
of the exams taken in England, trying to sell me a pen that will students to answer questions, and exam system.
eligible for free school meals”.
Wales and northern Ireland over record conversations, pictures and leaving students unsupervised “ofqual is committed to working
the 2008/09 school year. video footage for £60. during exams. with the awarding bodies to tackle it
Her solution is financial incentives from government for
The statistics have been “In essence, I think the exam Mr stewart said that there were in all its forms.”
schools to take in the full ability range of students in the unveiled by ofqual, the exams centres do what they can to combat a small number of invigilators that Meanwhile, a separate ofqual
capital – this could easily count for other cities too.
watchdog, and they show that the cheating and give everyone a fair would try to get away with unfairly report showed the number of
she said: “It is naïve to argue that we can get rid of
most common misdemeanour saw chance of success, but this will assisting students: “Unfortunately, pupils who were given preferential
students smuggling mobile phones, always prove a challenge to some they know the consequences of treatment in exams.
the notion of choice within our London system, or the
concealed earpieces, MP3 players, to try and beat the system.” such actions and are still prepared special dispensation, designed
multiplicity of schools. However, we currently have a
and calculators into exams. Liz Quinn, head at stourport to take the risks,” he added. to assist learners with disabilities
schooling system that facilitates separation and social others were found guilty of High school in Worcestershire, told Elsewhere, the statistics revealed or learning difficulties, was granted
segregation rather than encouraging and enabling social
plagiarism and copying another us that early education is key. that 70 schools and colleges failed 343,000 times. In 163,000 of these
diversity.”
student’s work. “We get the issues out of the to follow the requirements of exam cases, a candidate was allowed extra
In total, 2,155 pupils had marks way years before the formal exams boards. time to finish their exam. other
We would all herald the importance of ending this
deducted after being found guilty start and train them. our issues in some schools failed to special arrangements included the
segregation that can occur in London, and any urban area
of cheating. some 644 students the past tend to be ‘gigglers’ and “adhere to the requirements of use of dictionaries, Braille machines
for that matter, but effectively bribing schools to take more
were told they had failed their ‘naughties’, those who are bored an examination, such as opening and sign language. SecEd
disadvantaged children is a bold step.
of course, the concept of pupil premiums is being
discussed more and more by our would-be political
IN rESpONSE…
masters, but to me the difference here is that Prof Riley is
suggesting that we actually encourage schools financially to
SecEd and its sister magazine you have based your comments qualifications such as BTECs. but the ddPs are happy that
actively strive to enrol such pupils, rather than just paying a
Delivering Diplomas recently on discussion with teachers, and we Knowing that you are keen the numbers are pretty much
premium for the disadvantaged pupils they happen to have.
reported on a row between agree that there are teachers who on the core academic subjects, what we would have predicted.
the Conservatives and Labour have their doubts about this new and you must be delighted that every and numbers are steadily
so how would schools alter their approach to admissions
regarding Diplomas (War of unfamiliar qualification, not least young person aged 14 to 16 doing a increasing – for example, this
if financial incentives such as this were in place? words over Diplomas, SecEd 237, because it is still being taught on a Foundation or Higher diploma also year we have seen engineering
Is funding even the biggest priority – or does league
Thursday, January 28). relatively small scale. does English and maths GCsEs, as diploma enrolments increase
table position and quality of student come top of the wish
Iain Wright, minister for 14 as chairs of the diploma well as other subjects, as part of their by 50 per cent. Employers and
to 19 reform, told us that the development Partnerships (ddPs), overall programme of study. This is teachers across the country are
list? (as disadvantage has often been shown to be linked
Tories would be “short-term, we have been heavily involved not about “either or” – it’s about “the enthusiastically supporting these
to low achievement, which of the above would schools
foolish and narrow-minded” in designing the diplomas. We best plus”. qualifications. They combine
prioritise?) if they failed to embrace the obviously want to make sure not We are particularly pleased that academic rigour with well
I have always said that we will never solve the
Diplomas. Meanwhile, Michael only that they are being properly diploma students have to pass the designed work-related learning,
admissions issue. Class will always play a part, with those
Gove, Conservative shadow delivered, but also that people new Functional skills qualifications, and help young people of all types
education secretary, said that understand their potential for young which take young people through of ability develop exactly the skills
parents who are willing and able moving to areas where
the qualifications had not people and our economy. real-life scenarios and ensure they that we have long complained
they perceive education as being better.
satisfied employers in their now that the qualification is have the skills to deal with them. they lack – the skills that this
I am afraid money talks, and no matter how many pupil
rigour and quality, adding that getting a chance to “bed down”, we We are equally pleased that there country is going to need if it is to
premiums or incentives or initiatives we have in place – the
his party would do what it have more and more evidence that are many examples of universities remain globally competitive.
pushy middle class parent will always get their way.
could to “salvage the best of the young people find the qualification helping to teach diploma courses, as ddP chairs, we would
Diplomas”. motivating, different and very and that all advanced diploma like you and your colleagues to
so perhaps our attention has to turn to better motivating
The report led to the chairs challenging. Just as crucially – and students have to undertake the meet some diploma students and
schools to enrol disadvantaged students in a bid to achieve of 13 Diploma Development in direct contradiction to your Extended Project, which is a really their teachers. This can be quickly
a better spread of disadvantaged children across our city’s
Partnerships to write to Michael comments – we know of more and challenging piece of work. arranged and we look forward to
schools?
Gove. Their letter is published in more employers who are helping to We know that you are concerned demonstrating the real potential of
We have to try something to tackle disadvantage and ensure
full here: deliver the diplomas and are excited about the low numbers of students this qualification.
by what they see. enrolled on diplomas. We fully
a fair and equal chance for all because this issue is becoming
dear Michael, We are as comforted as you will support the strategy of starting small Graham Lane, Clive Jones,
the biggest challenges facing modern education. SecEd be by the fact that, although the so that those who do enrol get the Martin Bevan, Simon Bartley,
We note with interest your concern diplomas are a very different style best possible experience while the John McEwan, Fiona Mortlock,
• Pete Henshaw is the editor of secEd and delivering
about the rigour and quality of qualification, they build on and qualification beds in. Geoffrey Harrison, Michael
diplomas. Email him on editor@sec-ed.co.uk or visit
of diplomas, and employers’ incorporate much that is familiar, of course ministers were unwise Thornill, Phillip Marchant, Bob
satisfaction with them, as reported tried and tested, including GCsEs, to quote the early predictions that Fiddaman, Tony Cohen, Terry
www.sec-ed.com or www.deliveringdiplomas.com
recently in Delivering Diplomas. a levels and valued vocational came from enthusiastic consortia, Lamb, Hugh Lawlor.
6 SecEd • February 11 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16