Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Working to the test

Imagine I’m the head of a secondary school with pupils sitting GCSE exams this year.
 

I have limited resources and budget.
 

Where do I concentrate my school’s efforts?
 

Do I push the A students to get A+?
 

The B students to get A’s?
 

No, I leave those guys ticking over and move heaven and earth to push the D levels up to a C, and the C levels to maintain or head higher.
 

You see, I get no reward for increasing my A+ numbers, or for boosting my B stream students. I am measured on the percentage of pupils that leave my school with 5 C grades or above (including Maths and English). So that is where the extra effort will be targeted.
 

Do I care about the quality of the overall education?
 

Why should I? It isn’t what you measure and it isn’t the stick which you’ll use to beat me.
 

That stick is 5 C grades and above.
 

When the stick changes so will I.

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