Hilary Sargeant, NAHT Secondary Consultant, writes about her work. http://www.naht.org.uk/nahtsecondaryblog.rss Finally, the Government has listened to our concerns about the ever rising costs of examination fees and an enquiry into the efficiency of the system has been announced. It has been noted that the second largest item on most secondary school budgets, after staffing costs, is that of the examination fees. Individual examination costs rise. The.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=8 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:30:19 GMT 20080425143019 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:30:19 GMT 20080425143019 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:30:19 GMT 200804251423019 QCA have just announced that the Cambridge pre-U examination, introduced as an alternative to the current A level, has been approved and will now enter the list of available qualifications for schools. It was important that the alternative qualification met the criteria set down by the qualifications and curriculum authority and the new.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=9 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:31:31 GMT 20080425143131 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:31:31 GMT 20080425143131 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:31:31 GMT 200804251423131 The IEA has now been awarded its Royal Charter and has held its first Conference under the new header. This was at the Novotel in Euston on Wednesday and Thursday, April 23rd and 24th and they gathered together a range of interesting and important speakers on assessment. The highlight was the keynote speech by Dylan Wiliam (famous for his work with Paul.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=10 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:48:15 GMT 20080428104815 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:48:15 GMT 20080428104815 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:45:02 GMT 2008062612124502 The trials and tribulations of the new contractor, E.T.S. Europe, have been the subject of many a conversation. NAA still say that marking and processing is on track and that the SAT results will be received on time. At NAHT we have heard of so many stories of uncollected scripts, discontented markers and the problems of the helpline. As last year, we will be sending out a questionnaire to find out about the specific difficulties this year (and will be able to compare this.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=23 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:24:53 GMT 20080627082453 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:24:53 GMT 20080627082453 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:24:53 GMT 200806270882453 I was pleased to note that Ofqual have asked the University of Durham for more information about their findings that some A levels are harder than others. I don't think the results came as any surprise to us. We know that certain subjects have a significant reputation for being more difficult to study (Physics of course is one of them) and there tends to be a barrage of bad press for "easy " ones such as Media Studies. Ofqual need to establish themselves and this.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=24 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:37:17 GMT 20080701103717 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:37:17 GMT 20080701103717 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:37:17 GMT 2008070110103717 It is now official. The SAT results will be delayed. This comes amid dire warnings about the accuracy and reliability of the marking. NAA have taken it all very seriously but dealing with ETS Europe appears to have been extremely difficult (to put it mildly). When we have raised our concerns with them, they have been very interested and have steered many of their resources to try to deal with it. They know what the problems have been. They have done what they can to.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=27 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:07:41 GMT 20080705080741 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:07:41 GMT 20080705080741 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:07:41 GMT 200807050880741 I have been hearing of schools who have been badly hit by the DCSF sudden change to the criteria for eligibility for a second specialism. Overnight they seem to have "raised the bar" and now it is 65% 5A*-C including English and Maths whereas it was set at 60% I have even heard of one school who received a plaque for the second specialism and a letter withdrawing it during the same week ! This is a crazy world. If you have any examples,.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=28 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:01:51 GMT 20080708140151 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:01:51 GMT 20080708140151 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:01:51 GMT 200807081420151 By now you may, or may not, have had your SAT papers returned to you. Members are phoning headquarters with a range of concerns and we are seeking to keep track of the current situation. You must, of course, also report any issues you have in accordance with the proper procedures. If you do have problems with the quality of marking or any other aspect of the KS3 process, please let us know at headquarters by emailing hilarys@naht.org.uk Many thanks http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=29 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:34:05 GMT 20080711083405 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:34:05 GMT 20080711083405 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:47:12 GMT 2010040910104712 I know this may seem premature in the light of the ongoing furore about the SATs marking, but when you think of the longer term impications, it is even more alarming. SAT results form the basis of so much of the statistical evidence that schools are being urged to use. SAT results build further and further on the basis of SAT results - KS2 to KS3 - and then KS3 to GCSE etc. OfSTED and so many others use the statistical patterns as a basis for judgements. If the baseline.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=33 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:48:57 GMT 20080718124857 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:48:57 GMT 20080718124857 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:48:57 GMT 2008071812124857 There are a number of schools experiencing serious difficulties with funding for their Sixth Form for the forthcoming year. Expanding schools in some cases are not receiving sufficient resourcing for the anticipated numbers and this, in the light of a general tightening of budgets, means they are facing significant problems. The situation has not been helped by the schools who have overestimated the numbers of students as this has had an impact on the way in which the funding is to be.... http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/comment/blogs/secondaryblog/?blogpost=35 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:49 GMT 20080725091849 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:49 GMT 20080725091849 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:18:49 GMT 200807250991849