This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38315195
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 9 | Version 10 |
---|---|
Ignore school league tables, head teachers urge parents | Ignore school league tables, head teachers urge parents |
(4 months later) | |
Parents are being urged to ignore the latest school league tables, after "chaotic" changes to tests in England. | Parents are being urged to ignore the latest school league tables, after "chaotic" changes to tests in England. |
Final year primary pupils sat a raft of tough new tests in the summer. Only 53% of pupils passed, compared to the 80% who passed easier tests in 2015. | Final year primary pupils sat a raft of tough new tests in the summer. Only 53% of pupils passed, compared to the 80% who passed easier tests in 2015. |
Primary heads leader Russell Hobby said ministers had stressed the scale of the changes meant comparisons could not be drawn on previous years' results. | Primary heads leader Russell Hobby said ministers had stressed the scale of the changes meant comparisons could not be drawn on previous years' results. |
The government said schools had responded well to the higher demands. | The government said schools had responded well to the higher demands. |
Pupils at 14,930 state primary schools sat the new national Sats tests in reading, writing and maths - the "Three-Rs"; they also sat a spelling and grammar test. | Pupils at 14,930 state primary schools sat the new national Sats tests in reading, writing and maths - the "Three-Rs"; they also sat a spelling and grammar test. |
Schools are then ranked by these results to enable parents to narrow down the choice of schools for their children. | Schools are then ranked by these results to enable parents to narrow down the choice of schools for their children. |
In the run up to and during the tests, teachers and heads across England complained that the new papers had been set at too high a level and that not enough information had been made available. | In the run up to and during the tests, teachers and heads across England complained that the new papers had been set at too high a level and that not enough information had been made available. |
The government's expectation is that 65% of pupils in each school should meet the new expected standard in the "Three Rs". | The government's expectation is that 65% of pupils in each school should meet the new expected standard in the "Three Rs". |
In total, about 11,000 schools failed to meet this target. | In total, about 11,000 schools failed to meet this target. |
However, the Department for Education (DfE) said schools that achieved sufficient progress scores in reading, writing and maths would not be considered to be failing. | However, the Department for Education (DfE) said schools that achieved sufficient progress scores in reading, writing and maths would not be considered to be failing. |
It had deliberately held steady the percentage of schools deemed to be failing at 5% - the same as last year - so that the volatility of this year's results did not lead schools that were otherwise successful to be targeted for intervention. | It had deliberately held steady the percentage of schools deemed to be failing at 5% - the same as last year - so that the volatility of this year's results did not lead schools that were otherwise successful to be targeted for intervention. |
Conversely, just 47 schools saw all pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. | Conversely, just 47 schools saw all pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. |
General secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Mr Hobby, said: "The pass mark for the test was set at a ridiculously high level. | General secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Mr Hobby, said: "The pass mark for the test was set at a ridiculously high level. |
"We have just failed half the children in the country and yet Ofsted is saying nearly 90% of schools are good or outstanding. | "We have just failed half the children in the country and yet Ofsted is saying nearly 90% of schools are good or outstanding. |
"Pupils were doing what they should have been doing in the early years of secondary school. Some of the grammatical stuff was the same level as GCSE English." | "Pupils were doing what they should have been doing in the early years of secondary school. Some of the grammatical stuff was the same level as GCSE English." |
He added: "This data is not worth the paper it is written on. The government itself has said that it cannot be used to trigger interventions in schools. | He added: "This data is not worth the paper it is written on. The government itself has said that it cannot be used to trigger interventions in schools. |
"This year we saw the Sats system descend into chaos and confusion. | "This year we saw the Sats system descend into chaos and confusion. |
"Delayed and obscure guidance, papers leaked online, mistakes in test papers and inconsistent moderation made this year unmanageable for school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils." | "Delayed and obscure guidance, papers leaked online, mistakes in test papers and inconsistent moderation made this year unmanageable for school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils." |
But School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said the introduction of a new curriculum had raised expectations and ensured "pupils become more accomplished readers and are fluent in the basics of arithmetic, including times-tables, long division and fractions". | But School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said the introduction of a new curriculum had raised expectations and ensured "pupils become more accomplished readers and are fluent in the basics of arithmetic, including times-tables, long division and fractions". |
"Many schools have responded well to this more rigorous curriculum, supporting their pupils to be leaving primary school better prepared for the demands of secondary school," he said. | "Many schools have responded well to this more rigorous curriculum, supporting their pupils to be leaving primary school better prepared for the demands of secondary school," he said. |
Last year, when four-fifths of school pupils reached the expected level, then known as Level 4C, ministers praised schools for "rising to the challenge of raised standards and expectations for all pupils". | Last year, when four-fifths of school pupils reached the expected level, then known as Level 4C, ministers praised schools for "rising to the challenge of raised standards and expectations for all pupils". |
Boys v girls | Boys v girls |
Julie McCulloch, primary specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said schools had "performed miracles" in very difficult circumstances and deserved great credit. | Julie McCulloch, primary specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said schools had "performed miracles" in very difficult circumstances and deserved great credit. |
"The tests are based on a new, much harder curriculum, which the children had followed for only two years, and the expected standard has been significantly raised. | "The tests are based on a new, much harder curriculum, which the children had followed for only two years, and the expected standard has been significantly raised. |
"In addition, the government's introduction of these tests has been chaotic." | "In addition, the government's introduction of these tests has been chaotic." |
The data shows a continuing gender gap, with 57% of girls reaching the expected level in reading, writing and maths compared with 50% of boys. | The data shows a continuing gender gap, with 57% of girls reaching the expected level in reading, writing and maths compared with 50% of boys. |
And the most disadvantaged children fared far worse in these new tests, compared to their non-disadvantaged peers, than they did in the previous test with just 39% achieving the standard. | And the most disadvantaged children fared far worse in these new tests, compared to their non-disadvantaged peers, than they did in the previous test with just 39% achieving the standard. |
The government data also reveals regional differences, with London performing very strongly. | The government data also reveals regional differences, with London performing very strongly. |
School performance in England's local authorities | |
Percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | |
National average 53% | |
Source: Department for Education | |
Of the top 10 ranking local authorities, in terms of the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, nine are in London. | |
Of the 33 London boroughs, all but one (Enfield) was above the national average in terms of the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. | Of the 33 London boroughs, all but one (Enfield) was above the national average in terms of the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. |
The five local authorities with the highest percentage of pupils making the grade: | The five local authorities with the highest percentage of pupils making the grade: |
The five local authorities with the lowest percentage of pupils making the grade: | The five local authorities with the lowest percentage of pupils making the grade: |
Ludgvan School in Cornwall was the only school where more than 50% of students achieved a high score in reading and maths and were working at greater depth in writing. | Ludgvan School in Cornwall was the only school where more than 50% of students achieved a high score in reading and maths and were working at greater depth in writing. |
As well as test result data, the school league tables also provide lots of information about schools' social make-up, teaching workforce and the historic trend in their results. | As well as test result data, the school league tables also provide lots of information about schools' social make-up, teaching workforce and the historic trend in their results. |