Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
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Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
I am sure you will have seen the 'news' this week that that comprehensive schools are 'failing' their ablest pupils (thanks, Daily Mail)
Just to offer a little balance to this story, I am posting part of a response from Chris Husbands (Director of IOE), who points out that 'all is not well' in grammar schools either.
Just to offer a little balance to this story, I am posting part of a response from Chris Husbands (Director of IOE), who points out that 'all is not well' in grammar schools either.
His conclusion is interesting too, I feel:in comprehensive schools, 35% of those who secured level 5 or above in both English and Maths went on to secure an A or A* at GCSE, whereas the figure was 59% in grammar schools. But this means that 41% of those who secured a Level 5 at age 11 and went on to selective secondary education did not secure an A or A* at GCSE.
Not exactly grist to the mill of those who say that bright children will do well anywhere, but perhaps a little light cast on the nuances of that argument. And maybe also a little support for those who believe that children pushed to get into selective schools may actually not be the academic hot shots their parents wish them to be.And there’s a further point: over the same period, policy and press discussion has tended to divide schools into “successful” and “failing” schools. The OFSTED report on higher attainers demonstrates that it’s a lot more complex than this: it turns out that “successful” schools are often no more successful in meeting the needs of very high attaining pupils than less successful schools. And, for all the difference between comprehensive schools and grammar schools, if grammar schools are not securing the highest grades for two-fifths of their most able students, the observation holds there. Put slightly differently, it does not matter much which school you go to, but it may matter a great deal who teaches you when you get there.
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Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
Completely agree with this.Amber wrote:Put slightly differently, it does not matter much which school you go to, but it may matter a great deal who teaches you when you get there.
But back to failing the brightest. The problem with all these statistics is that the NC levels are far too wide - a 2 year spread - for this sort of comparison at KS4 to be fair. So the school I teach at is very successful at getting Y6 to level 5 and it looks very good in league tables (as do a number of other nearby primary schools). But many Y6 pupils just scrape into the level 5 bracket, so I as a teacher might say they are really a very capable level 4 not a level 5, but they should have started level 5 work. However their ability / knowledge / whatever will be very different from those who get a high level 5, you would expect them to be 2 years ahead and ready to begin level 6 work. All these pupils are then set the same target of trying to achieve the highest grades at GCSE. It doesn't make sense.
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
Aren't the "equivalent" (i.e. "meeting expectations") GCSE grades B / A / A* for those who left KS2 with at least level 5? Cannot remember which source this is from but there is a discussion and link somewhere on the Forum. This would make sense when considering wonderwoman's comments about the spread of actual abilities covered by "level 5". However, the current fuss is about the ones who fail to get A or A*. How many of the remainder actually do get a B?
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
How does this equate with the fact that supposedly exams are too easy and too many people are getting As and A*s.
if not enough level 5s are getting the As and A*s who is getting them?
Steve
if not enough level 5s are getting the As and A*s who is getting them?
Steve
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
It's OK - we can all breathe easy. The answer is to abolish the levels, which is what the Government did the day after the 'failing' report came out.As part of our reforms to the national curriculum , the current system of ‘levels’ used to report children’s attainment and progress will be removed. It will not be replaced (DFE, 13 June 2013).
Oh, if only all things in life were so simple.
http://www.education.gov.uk/a00225864/a ... out-levels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
I'm sure they will change their minds several times anyway. Interesting to know how they will devise their league tables for primary schools. Or will they keep the "levels"?Amber wrote:It's OK - we can all breathe easy. The answer is to abolish the levels, which is what the Government did the day after the 'failing' report came out.As part of our reforms to the national curriculum , the current system of ‘levels’ used to report children’s attainment and progress will be removed. It will not be replaced (DFE, 13 June 2013).
Oh, if only all things in life were so simple.
http://www.education.gov.uk/a00225864/a ... out-levels" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ETA (RTQ scary mum) - it is primary schools & they can report "whatever measures they decide to use". Hmmm. Useful for comparison purposes
scary mum
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Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
Whoopie! I have been banging on about this for years. Now maybe we can get back to some proper teaching!
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
but what about this seems to be saying the opposite:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/201 ... :Position7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/201 ... :Position7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
Yes, but if a pupil from a good private school ended up at Cardiff or, heaven forbid, as a Brookite they would not have been the brightest or the most hardworking at their school. Therefore these figures are not exactly surprising.
Re: Are comprehensives really 'failing' their ablest pupils?
Magwich2, Oxford Brookes has an extremely good reputation. Have you looked at the employment statistics? Pick on somewhere else!heaven forbid, as a Brookite