Sympathetic consideration for stranded students 

JCQ who oversee English examination boards have said they will deal sympathetically with students stranded overseas because of problems caused by volcanic ash.

It will not allow written exams at GCSE and A-level to be rescheduled but will allow practical exams and orals to be re-arranged. Where necessary a case for special consideration, due to problems caused by the situation, will be permitted. Students are urged to speak with the examinations officer at their school as soon as possible.

It's  not just those taking exams this week that are affected; typically the time between Easter and the May bank holiday is a key time for revision with students able to improve significantly on their performance during this time. Stranded students have reported schools doing their utmost to send work via email and the intranet.

Comment (0)

The DCSF announced last week that school children are to learn about money matters including: savings, mortgages, credit and the financial markets. They've even enlisted the help of renowned money saving expert Martin Lewis to stress how important these matters are.

The announcement was followed by another release from the DCSF saying that schools with surplus balances could be punished or have their savings clawed back. Which leaves us wondering just what money management tips the children will be taught!

 

Comment (0)

Last year we helped Xtraordinary People conduct research to provide vital evidence into how independent prep schools ensure all children develop skills in the 3R's. This week the government has announced that all pupils in the early years of primary schooling are guaranteed catch-up support if they fall behind in any of reading writing or numeracy. 

The research, conducted by The Good Schools Guide and Xtraordinary People, showed very clearly that, a combination of: teacher expertise, teaching and learning styles matched to the needs of the child, timely intervention and individual support were all factors that contributed to the success of children with learning difficulties. 

The government have pledged £50m over two years to help deliver a similar package to children in state schools - including specialist training for thousands of teachers. Let's hope the schools and staff are given sufficient autonomy to look closely at the individual needs of the child, rather than the need to tick boxes in a set way, by a nominated date, to pass a pre-assigned test.

Comment (0)

The winners of The Good Schools Guide A-level and GCSE awards for 2009* were announced this week, well-done to all; deserved recognition for your hard-work.  It’s difficult to single–out any school, all should be proud of their achievements but special mention must go to this years top 3 multiple award winners:

• North Devon College, Barnstaple, Devon (co-ed, state) – 6 awards at AS and A-level, plus one for NVQ level 3 – (6 awards in 2007)
• Burnham Grammar School, Slough, Buckinghamshire (co-ed, selective state school) – 6 awards for AS and A-level (4 awards in 2007)
• Welbeck, The Defence Sixth Form College, Nottinghamshire (co-ed state selective) - 6 awards for AS and A-level (4 awards in 2007)

Finally, ‘bravo’ to Hill View School for Girls. Tonbridge, Kent (state, girls), they received a staggering 7 awards for the various components of NVQ level 3 French and Spanish.

*2009 reflects the year in which the awards were made, rather than the year the exams were taken.

A full list of winners can be found at The Good Schools Guide Awards: the winners.

To view the certificates of any award winning school- locate the school via school name search (top menu) - click on the appropriate school link. Once you are on the school's page click on either:

For A-level awards or



for GCSE awards

Comment (0)

Jetting off? Fly high with GSGi
  

Each year a number of people leave Britain's shores to embark on a new life overseas.

Whether a well-planned, long-considered dream or a short-notice 'posting' many of the problems and issues ex-pats face, remain the same. What will the new country be like? Will the family settle? How do I find out about education overseas? What are the schools like?

Fortunately answers are at hand. The Good Schools Guide International (GSGi) has been working overtime to provide all the ex-pat and schools information you'll need. Of course they can't always pre-empt every question, for every country so last week, Harriet Plyler, the dynamic GSGi editor joined forces with Mary Langford of The European Council of International Schools  and Robert Orr at The Financial Times (FT.com) to answer all your queries via a live web-chat.  If you missed it don't worry, just click here for the replay; alternatively go straight to The GSGi and pose your own question.
 

The Good Schools Guide International -  for those who don't want to miss the boat!

 

Comment (0)

But who are the real offenders?

Having spent more than a few years working to help families with schools admissions it comes as no surprise to find that parents continue to lie, cheat, even feign divorce to get their off-spring into 'popular' ie good schools.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that at least one family is being prosecuted for lying about where they live. Isn't that rather missing the point?

How can wanting the best for your child be perceived as criminal?

Surely the crime here is the failure of local authorities to provide enough places in schools that measure-up to parents' exacting standards. Instead of pursuing parents and tightening up on schools admissions procedures, wouldn't it be better to improve schools so parents can concentrate on the important task of raising their children rather than worrying about the consequences lest their latest devious ruse to 'cheat the system' be uncovered?

Comment (0)

Access denied

Having recently paid-out a few hundred pounds for my child's GCSE public exam entries at an independent school, I thought the very least I should do is check what exams he had, when and offer moral support. No such luck. According to the parent section of the school's website unless my child gives ME permission I am not allowed to view his exam entries, see his exam timetable or indeed access his GCSE results. I would have hoped that, as the 'purchaser' of said examination entries I could, at the very least, check that what I've been billed for matches the examinations my child is sitting.

I suspect this is yet another case of data protection gone mad rather than school policy. Doubtless, if I asked, my son would give me permission but that's not the point;  if he failed to turn-up for an exam I'd be the one taken to task and it will be me picking up the pieces if he fails to make the grade - that's if he chooses to tell me of course!

How long before we have to seek permission from our children to read their school reports?

Comment (0)

The summer term has always been a tense time: hay-fever, exams... but now, with the announcements of yet more unscheduled independent school closures, there’s a whole new set of anxieties to contend with.  The death of a school is not only sad for the community it can have a prolonged, even devastating impact on youngsters who are subsequently separated from: the familiar, great friends and good teachers; it also puts added pressure on places at good state schools.  It’s not always easy to spot when a school is going to close; it’s not necessarily those who perform badly, so potential closures can be hard to spot but School obituaries offers some clues.

Comment (0)

Will lessons be learned?

Last week's audible gasps, from those dwelling north of Hadrian’s Wall, were nothing to do with the discovery of Gordon on YouTube - no, they arose because the English plundered the Scottish system of assessment and passed it off as their own.  Proposed changes in England, which include:  abandoning science SATS; trusting teachers to assess and mark SATs and single level exams, mirror the Scottish system for assessing children aged 5-14.

These ‘new ideas’ have been evolving in Scottish schools (as part of the 5-14 curriculum) since last century. Their system isn’t perfect (changes are afoot for 2010/11); so will those in charge do their homework: talk to Scottish (and English) teachers, pupils, parents; find-out what works and what needs changing? Or will they simply turn-up on the day, write what they like then blame everyone else when their report reads, ‘should do better’?

Doubtless, this week, while pupils from Lands End to Marshall Meadows sit the dreaded SATs, teachers will wait anxiously in the wings, wondering how things will turn-out - we wish them luck...

Comment (0)

School closed - Children to be repatriated?

Paignton College in Devon has closed temporarily following the confirmation that a 12-year old pupil has contracted swine flu, we wish the pupil a speedy recovery. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have now upgraded their alert to Phase 4*. This has an immediate impact on overseas pupils at British boarding schools.

The British Department for Education and Skills planning document states:

'Where a pupil from an overseas family has no guardianship arrangement in the UK, the school should, at the start of WHO alert phase 4, ask the parents whether they wish immediately to repatriate the pupil.  Any pupil remaining in the UK into phase 4 would risk being unable to travel overseas at phase 5 or phase 6, due to possible disruption of international travel. '

If this affects you, and school haven't been in touch, you may wish to contact them to confirm arrangements.
*As at 30th April the alert phase has been raised to phase 5.

Comment (0)