KS3 Test Update 1

YOu've probably all seen the news about the ICT Test and the NAA over the last week or so
DFES will be making an announcement on Wednesday at Bett which we will update you on as soon as possible

Christian

Who's Going to BETT from LBWF?

Just to let people know, I'll be at Bett Weds and Friday
Peter will be there Wednesday
Geoff, Salim and Stuart will be there Thursday
Alistair will be there with Dickon Wednesday as well

So if you're there and want another opinion or just to bend our ears. please let us know

KS4 Support

This term we will be focussing on KS4 coursework. Apart from being an issue identified within this authority, it has also been highlighted as a problem by the National Strategy and by exam boards. It has become apparent that many of the unexpedidly low grades in recent years has often been due to issues with coursework. Problems have arisen throughout the whole coursework approach including setting and monitoring. We have seen several examples of incorrectly assessed or moderated coursework which has resulted in pupils being awarded grades that were below expectations.

Over the next two weeks we will be arranging meetings with each subject leader to ask the following questions...

Are you on track for all coursework for each pupil to be completed on time?
What are you doing about pupils who have not completed all coursework?
Have you identified borderline pupils (eg borderline C/D grades) and what is being done to help them raise their grades?
What is being done to ensure marking is consistent across the department?
How have you addressed the comments in last year's examiners' feedback? (It would be useful to have this document at the meeting.)

We are suggesting that during the meeting we will view some examples of recently completed Year 11 coursework (including an expected A and C grade student) so that we can ensure that marking is in accordance with the criteria set out by the examination board and is consistent across the borough. We hope this will be an opportunity to identify any obvious issues and to be able to extract good practice that can be shared with other departments across the borough before coursework is submitted.

This is particularly important if there were issues last year, including mass re-moderation and subsequent reduction of marks by the examination board, or if you are undertaking a course which is new to the school. It is also important for schools who received good grades in recent years so that we can see continued success and that good practice can be shared with others.

Best Xmas Sale Deal

We all did it- wandered round the sales and probably bought at least 1 thing for the computer
What was it!? Don't keep the good deals to yourself

Mine...
A 320gb external hard drive for £79 from PC World and a 2gb USB pen from PC World for £24
A DIVX Player hardrive for £100

BETT!?

It's only a week away!
Who's going?
What days?
What are you looking for?

This year, we'll have the usual competition, whoever posts the best freebie they can pick up from a supplier at Bett (without having bought anything first!) will win a prize at the next Best Practice Forum/Network Meeting

Is your school ready for the QCA Onscreen ICT Test for Year Nine?

This year is the last year of piloting the Onscreen ICT test for Y9’s before it becomes statutory in 2008.

Based on feedback from last year’s pilots, while subject teachers were generally prepared for the test and started to deliver test preparation sessions, they did not plan themselves enough curriculum time to adequately prepare the pupils fully. We have been supporting subject leaders over the past year to develop this and will continue to do so through the next few months.

One of the other key areas that the pilot schools found an issue was the administrative and logistic preparation for the test in terms of exams procedures, rules and allocations of staff and invigilators.

The test must to be run under exam procedures, and will have an effect on the availability of the ICT suites and technical staff during the test period for the rest of the school

To support schools in preparing the logistics of the test, we have agreed with John Smyth from the NAA to deliver a half day briefing and Q&A session for every exams officer in secondary schools in the LA. This session will provide an opportunity for questions to be answered directly from the NAA on issues such as extra time, readers and adequate timings between sessions in a school

The session will be held for all secondary schools on Monday 15^th January at the City Learning Centre, Billet Road, from 9.30 to 12.30 and is offered to all schools free of charge (this session will be offered again by the NAA after this year at a cost to schools). To register your exams officer at this session, please contact Kathryn Ryan on 020 8496 5807 before January 12^th.

Primary 2007?

We had hoped to have a full time Primary consultant in January but this has not been possible.
Given that Christian and the CLC team will be offering training specificaly for Primary schools ijn ICT matters
What would you like to see on the schedule?