Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Discussion and advice on Sixth Form matters

Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators

11 Plus Mocks - Practise the real exam experience - Book Now
moved
Posts: 3826
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by moved »

Sorry, perhaps other members can point you in the right direction. I've slept since I read the article!
Catseye
Posts: 1824
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:03 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Catseye »

Daogroupie wrote:Have Cambridge recorded their current position on the situation anywhere? St Albans Girls has a new Head from St Pauls School for Girls where 54% of the girls go to Oxbridge yet they have already informed parents that this year will be the last year for the AS. It seems the private schools are moving ahead on this. DG
most indies in the NW are maintaining AS's probably been cajoled/bullied by Cambridge

"Cambridge University is facing a backlash from leading private schools amid claims its policy on A-levels will damage pupils’ education and push students towards Oxford.
The university was accused of sending a “deeply depressing signal” to schools after calling on teenagers to take three or four AS-level exams to get in to the ancient institution
Cambridge wrote to all schools and colleges last week to “strongly encourage” them to retain the AS when major reforms to the qualification system in England are introduced next year.
It suggested that taking the exams – currently sat at the end of the lower-sixth – would put students at an advantage because they act as a “robust indicator” of pupils’ ability.
The intervention was made despite government plans to scrap the exam in its present form in favour of "linear" A-levels, with all exams sat at the end of two years

A-level reforms 'will harm English pupils', says Cambrigde


Cambridge's comments could now lead to large numbers of schools keeping AS-levels alongside the full two-year A-level course.

But the move has been criticised by some schools amid claims the AS disrupts pupils’ education in the middle of the sixth-form and acts as a block on teaching time.

In a letter to the university, Andrew Halls, headmaster of King’s College School, London, said the impact of retaining the AS “would be significant and wholly negative on the summer term of the lower sixth”.

“You clearly wish all A level-schools would follow an identical model, regardless of our own views as teachers and head teachers,” he told the university.

David Goodhew, head of Latymer Upper School in London, told the Telegraph that the intervention represented a “deeply depressing signal from one of our major academic institutions”.

"To be clear, all schools are requested to sacrifice five weeks of time that could be spent on teaching and learning," he said.

He suggested the demand to retain AS-levels would push potential Cambridge applicants to other universities, adding: “All of this must be music to the ears of the admissions team at Oxford.”

Mark Beard, head of University College School, London, said: “For an institution that prides itself on the highest standards of education, it seems a shame that Cambridge have been unable to move with the times and appreciate that the demise of the existing AS qualification frees up the entire summer term for continued academic pursuit.”

The comments follow criticism from heads of state grammar schools last week who released a statement claiming that it was “spurious to argue that the educational needs of students are best served by schools continuing to base the first year of sixth-form on AS”.

Currently, around 300,000 students sit AS exams at the end of the first year of the sixth-form and A2 exams in the second – with both results combining to form final A-level grades.

From 2015, A-levels in England will be wholly assessed through end-of-course exams taken after two years, giving pupils access to extra lesson time.

AS-levels will be retained as standalone courses but results will no longer count towards the full A-level.

Schools are currently deciding whether to offer the AS a qualification next year but Cambridge is in favour of its retention because it uses results as part of the applications process.

In last week’s letter, Mike Sewell, Cambridge’s director of admissions, says that AS exams “are of significant educational benefit” and act as a “better predictor of success at university” than GCSEs.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/un ... Oxford.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Indies have the financial muscle to mix and match if they want ! the state schools are restricted by tax payers budget and cannot offer the same flexibility.
moved
Posts: 3826
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by moved »

Perhaps Cambridge should extend the entrance test system to match Oxford which uses them more widely.

Back to 4th term entrance exams like what I did in my comp! Traditionally and backed up by statistics top name independent schools are better at prepping their pupils for these tests as they aren't embroiled in the league table game.
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Daogroupie »

Thank you Catseye, very helpful. Any chance of a copy of the letter Cambridge sent to all schools and colleges? This is top of mind for me as my Y11 dd has just 30 days to choose four subjects that she may or may not have to continue for two years depending on what happens in the next year. DG
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Daogroupie »

In my area every move made by the indies is to try and claw a few more points up the league tables. They are much more focused on the league tables than the states are. I do not want a return to an extra test. They should be using the exams the students are already taking which is what Cambridge has been doing very successfully with As's and saving themselves a fortune by not having to arrange and mark extra tests. DG
Catseye
Posts: 1824
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:03 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Catseye »

Daogroupie wrote:indies is to try and claw a few more points up the league tables
what something like QES do ? by a savage culling at 6th form.
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Daogroupie »

That does not help them with their GCSE results! Every school culls at Sixth Form, the difference at QE is that they use internal data and not GCSE results. But this policy is made very clear to all those who get a qualifying mark of 210 and above and come to the school on one of six dates after the results. QE do not have a Sixth Form intake so every family who enters the schools in Y7 is made aware of this policy. They are Number One and as we can see on this forum there are families who only choose QE for this reason and travel for hours to get there. DG
moved
Posts: 3826
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by moved »

Oxford use a huge number of entrance tests. These are part of the curriculum at the independents that are good at getting their cohort in.
Minesatea
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:08 am

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Minesatea »

DS sixth form have always taken 4AS and continued all to A2. The application form for next year is still requesting the DC's choice of AS levels to study in year 12. So no apparent change.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Sixth Form Open Afternoons

Post by Guest55 »

Minesatea - have they realised the effect of the curriculum changes? What does the prospectus say about the subjects changing next September?
Post Reply
11 Plus Platform - Online Practice Makes Perfect - Try Now