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Johnson signals targets shake-up | Johnson signals targets shake-up |
(9 minutes later) | |
Current targets will become too narrow a measure of success as schools move towards more personalised learning, the education secretary has said. | Current targets will become too narrow a measure of success as schools move towards more personalised learning, the education secretary has said. |
Alan Johnson also suggested a shake-up of the system could encourage some schools to seek out bright pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. | Alan Johnson also suggested a shake-up of the system could encourage some schools to seek out bright pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. |
He said reform plans for England would be announced soon. | He said reform plans for England would be announced soon. |
The National Union of Teachers has welcomed his comments and called for the scrapping of league tables. | The National Union of Teachers has welcomed his comments and called for the scrapping of league tables. |
Threshold targets focus everything on a narrow time and performance window Alan JohnsonEducation Secretary | Threshold targets focus everything on a narrow time and performance window Alan JohnsonEducation Secretary |
Mr Johnson told a meeting of new head teachers in London, organised by the National College of School Leadership, that school targets had produced "massive improvements" and were "here to stay". | Mr Johnson told a meeting of new head teachers in London, organised by the National College of School Leadership, that school targets had produced "massive improvements" and were "here to stay". |
But he added: "They do not tell the whole story." | But he added: "They do not tell the whole story." |
They conceal "tales of amazing achievement on the one hand and substantial groups of disadvantaged kids left behind on the other", he said. | They conceal "tales of amazing achievement on the one hand and substantial groups of disadvantaged kids left behind on the other", he said. |
"Threshold targets focus everything on a narrow time and performance window, failing to take account of potential or progress over a longer period." | "Threshold targets focus everything on a narrow time and performance window, failing to take account of potential or progress over a longer period." |
Thresholds are, for example, the proportion of pupils attaining a certain level or number of qualifications - such as five good GCSEs. | Thresholds are, for example, the proportion of pupils attaining a certain level or number of qualifications - such as five good GCSEs. |
Mr Johnson said it was not a success if a child who was expected to obtain eight A grade GCSEs only achieved five moderate grades. | Mr Johnson said it was not a success if a child who was expected to obtain eight A grade GCSEs only achieved five moderate grades. |
But if a pupil who was expected to achieve nothing got their English and maths GCSEs then it was an achievement worth recognising, he added. | But if a pupil who was expected to achieve nothing got their English and maths GCSEs then it was an achievement worth recognising, he added. |
'Open mind' | 'Open mind' |
He said he had a "genuinely open mind" about how measures of a child's progression could "supplement" the existing targets system. | He said he had a "genuinely open mind" about how measures of a child's progression could "supplement" the existing targets system. |
A discussion document to expose these issues would be published in the next two weeks, he added. | A discussion document to expose these issues would be published in the next two weeks, he added. |
The education secretary said £1bn was being spent to bring about pupil-centred personalised learning in England's schools - equivalent to about £135 per pupil. | |
The government is at last facing up to the obvious Steve SinnottNational Union of Teachers | The government is at last facing up to the obvious Steve SinnottNational Union of Teachers |
Mr Johnson said the funds would "maximise the chances of every pupil to progress". | Mr Johnson said the funds would "maximise the chances of every pupil to progress". |
So-called "value added" progress measures are already published. | |
From this year, the school performance tables will also reflect such "contextual" factors as pupils' ethnicity, gender, social deprivation and special educational needs. | |
But the targets schools have do not relate to these. | |
The general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, said personalised education was in direct contradiction to crude national targets. | The general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, said personalised education was in direct contradiction to crude national targets. |
"But he needs to go further. League tables are not inevitable. Other countries have shown they can do without them. They should go." | "But he needs to go further. League tables are not inevitable. Other countries have shown they can do without them. They should go." |
'More intelligent' | 'More intelligent' |
The head of the Association of School and College Leaders, John Dunford, said consideration of new progress measures was long overdue. | The head of the Association of School and College Leaders, John Dunford, said consideration of new progress measures was long overdue. |
The threshold GCSE measure "skews policy and forces schools to allocate scarce resources to particular areas", he said. | The threshold GCSE measure "skews policy and forces schools to allocate scarce resources to particular areas", he said. |
"A measure based on the progress that each individual student makes from one key stage to the next represents a step towards a more intelligent accountability system, as ASCL has long advocated." | "A measure based on the progress that each individual student makes from one key stage to the next represents a step towards a more intelligent accountability system, as ASCL has long advocated." |
Shadow education secretary David Willetts said Mr Johnson was at last admitting that some children from poor areas were getting a raw deal from their education. | Shadow education secretary David Willetts said Mr Johnson was at last admitting that some children from poor areas were getting a raw deal from their education. |
"But Alan Johnson failed to address the crucial point. It is tried and tested teaching methods that benefit children of all abilities." | "But Alan Johnson failed to address the crucial point. It is tried and tested teaching methods that benefit children of all abilities." |
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Sarah Teather said struggling pupils were too often left behind under the rpesent "regime". | Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Sarah Teather said struggling pupils were too often left behind under the rpesent "regime". |
"Funding shouldn't be focused on geographical areas or classes of people, but directly on those children who are under-achieving," she said. | "Funding shouldn't be focused on geographical areas or classes of people, but directly on those children who are under-achieving," she said. |
"This 'pupil premium' would create the necessary incentive for schools to take on challenging pupils." | "This 'pupil premium' would create the necessary incentive for schools to take on challenging pupils." |