Theresa May, Prime Minister Photo: Crown Copyright/ Number 10 Credit: Tom Evans
UK EDUCATION
but internally marked tests in spelling and grammar (SPaG), maths and reading. Key Stage 2 pupils take externally set and marked tests in the same subjects. The tests result in a scaled score, which produces a precise number for each test. The government’s ‘f loor target’ is that 85 per cent of all children should achieve the expected level of 100. Teaching unions believe that the
expectations of children’s understanding of spelling and grammar are too high. Amanda Hulme, a National Association of Head Teachers executive member and head of a primary school in Bolton, said, “I have a degree in English language, and there are a number of questions that I couldn’t answer. I can now answer them, but I’ve had to relearn. I’ve got 23 years’ experience as a teacher.” Primary-school pupils took the f irst
sponsorship of a local state school to providing
direct school-to-school
support. This could include supporting teaching in minority subjects, such as further maths or classics, which state schools often struggle to make viable. It could also include ensuring that independent schools’ senior leaders become directors of multi-academy trusts and provide greater access to their schools’ facilities.
New National Curriculum Over the last two academic years, the government has introduced a new “more ambitious” National Curriculum, and has reformed qualifications and assessment at GCSE and A Level. The curriculum has been slimmed
down significantly, so that teachers can focus on the “essential knowledge and skills every child should have”. The bar has been raised considerably for children’s learning in the areas of maths, English, computing and science. For example, children are now expected to know their 12 times table by the age of nine.
Primary-school assessment Assessment of the primary National Curriculum takes place at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Key Stage 1 pupils take externally set
SATs this summer, after following the new National Curriculum. The examination period was beset by controversy, as test papers were leaked to the press just days before pupils were due to sit the tests. Parents up and down the country boycotted the tests in protest. According to data released by the
Department for Education after the papers were marked, just 53 per cent of 11-year-olds reached the accepted standard in reading, writing and maths this year.
GCSE and A Level reform From September 2015, schools in England began teaching new, revised GCSE and A Level programmes. Students will sit the first set of examinations in summer 2017. Assessment for the new-style GCSEs
will move away from coursework assessment and will be mostly by exam. A new grading scale of 9–1 will be used, with 9 being the highest grade. This will allow for greater differentiation, particularly at the top, where the new grade 9 will be higher than the current A*.
English language, English literature
and maths will be the first of the new GCSE subjects to be taught in schools in England. Further subjects will be introduced until summer 2019, when all subjects will be taught under the new system. Exam resits will only be available in November, and only in English language and maths. New AS and A Levels have also been
taught in schools in England since September 2015. The first results for the new AS Levels were announced in 2016, and those for the new A Levels are due in 2017. As with the GCSEs, the main changes are that assessment will be mainly by exam. AS and A Levels will be ‘decoupled’, meaning that AS results will no longer count towards an A Level in the way they do now.
Justine Greening, Education Secretary Photo: Crown Copyright/ Number 10
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