From the coalface 5

Occasionally I open up the blog to others to write a post or two … (don’t worry Seager isn’t getting another chance … EVER!). Some of the motives for doing this stem from being able to offer a different view on life at the coalface but also because I find other people’s views fascinating and … Read more

A little every day – JANUARY 2017

I did mean to get these posted last week but sometimes forget how manic the end of term is … just starting to chill out – it’s only taken 4 days! The file for the January maths calendar and also solutions for the December one can be found below: January 2017 -> Monthly Maths – … Read more

What we know and what we don’t know – 9-1 GRADING

To avoid raising my blood pressure every time someone posts something about grading that isn’t right I thought I’d collate how it is actually going to work in one post and leave it pinned to the top of the blog so that I can keep referring people to it.  I wish we could stop playing … Read more

H v F ..

No-one knows what the boundaries for any grade are going to be next Summer; There is lots of second guessing going on and I’ve seen some things that are glaringly wrong and I’ve seen some things that are founded on good common sense but what is obvious is that the make up of the papers … Read more

Grading consultation Part 3 – New Maths GCSE 9-1

The week before last, Ofqual published another consultation on grading (I know!! 7 months to go!!) which on the face of it looks like they’re tidying up the “subject level conditions and requirements for mathematics” and in my opinion, in the main, it is just that. To be honest there is one thing in it … Read more

Presentation “watch”

I’ve been a little quiet on the “teaching” blog front recently because we’re all so pre-occupied with the new GCSE. I am sooooo looking forward to when it is no longer “new” and we, as teachers get more of a grip on what a grade 5 etc looks and feels like. It is so very … Read more

Get involved!

This idea came out of our last Edexcel network meeting at Alcester whereby we discussed the impossible task of allocating grades given that none of the exam boards are able to give the slightest guidance. After a discussion we agreed that it would be useful to share anonymous student marks for the secure mocks to … Read more

A letter to Ofqual

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] EDIT: I’ve had a response … I have added it to the bottom of this post. Very detailed and allays lots of fears! OMG … did I just say that?? Myself … Read more

Secret Link