http://www.retoday.org.uk/media/display/Accountability_measures_NATRE_final.docx
Making the
case for GCSE Full Course (for all?) in your school
A new method of
calculating school performance based on each student's progress between key
stage 2 and 4 was confirmed by the government in October 2013. This measure is
called the Progress 8 score. The Progress 8 score will complement the
Attainment 8 score. Reformed GCSEs will be awarded at grades 1 – 8 as they are
introduced. Attainment 8 and Progress 8 measures will be used to measure school
performance from 2016.
These two
indicators of school performance are based on pupils’ performance across 8
subjects. These subjects are:
A)
a double weighted English element (the best result of the English Language and
English Literature qualification will count for this element, but will only
be double weighted if the pupil has also taken both qualifications);
B)
a double weighted mathematics element;
C)
three slots reserved for other EBacc subjects (sciences, computer science,
geography, history and languages).
D)three
slots that can be taken up by further qualifications from the range of EBacc
subjects, or any other high value arts, academic, or vocational
qualification. RS GCSE counts as one of these 'high value' academic
qualifications. The other English qualifications not counted in (A) can also
count in this group of subjects.
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How will
Progress 8 work?
Pupils with a
point score of 29 on their Key stage 2 tests achieve, on average, 8 C grades at
GCSE. If a pupil with this level of prior attainment achieves 8 B grades in a
GCSE then she has made an average of one grade more progress than expected. The
average of all pupils’ progress scores across 8 subjects will create a school’s
result.
The Progress 8
measure replaced the 5 A* - C score as the main measure in performance
tables. This means schools will be
deemed to fall below the floor standard if pupils make an average of half a
grade less progress than expected across their 8 subjects. However, schools in
which pupils make an average of one grade more progress than expected across
their 8 subjects will not be inspected by Ofsted during the next academic year.
So a school that
wishes to give its pupils the best opportunity to demonstrate the most progress
and also wants to achieve the highest possible Progress 8 score should
obviously be looking closely at the value added scores of individual subjects,
especially those in category D above. In
many schools, most students already take two sciences, in which case, only ONE
further EBacc subject is required to complete category C.
Some students,
despite the best teaching, find particular subjects, including EBacc subjects
more difficult than others. This may apply to languages for example or history/
geography. In these circumstances schools that have compelled all students to
study each of the EBacc subjects may not only be reducing pupils opportunity to
demonstrate the best progress and attainment, but may well find themselves
falling down the performance tables.
Likewise, schools that maximise their
students' opportunity to achieve the highest value added score will be
encouraging them to study the subjects where they are most likely to make most
progress within a broad and balanced key stage 4 curriculum. These schools will
usually be rewarded by a break from OfSTED for the next year recognising the
good service they are providing their pupils.
So how does the value added score for RS full course in your school compare with other subjects in category D? If RS is one of the top three, then the argument is compelling that all students should study full course RS and study it for the recommended time of 120-140 hours
So how does the value added score for RS full course in your school compare with other subjects in category D? If RS is one of the top three, then the argument is compelling that all students should study full course RS and study it for the recommended time of 120-140 hours
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