THE Ofqual Research Project .. III

23 May 2015 | BlogUncategorized

 I’m going to try to make this a no waffle post … so let’s get on with it … Part III I want to look at the fact that for strand 1 of the research modular papers were used to compare the so-called “recent” questions. Basically for those of you that don’t know modular exams ... Read more

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THE Ofqual research project …

21 May 2015 | BlogUncategorized

Only someone sat in an ivory tower would dare to say “let’s not cry over spilt milk” “what’s done is done” “let’s move on” …. I know that we have to “play with the cards we are dealt” but that doesn’t mean public bodies should not be held accountable. I know questioning the “Big Boys” ... Read more

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So who is Punxsutawney Phil?

21 May 2015 | Blog

I have been asked by a National Newspaper for my thoughts (I wonder why I was asked??) and I know that it has been cut down to a “soundbite” (it happens and I can live with that !) so here is my initial uncut version with more added to it. I will be back later ... Read more

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Down the rabbit hole …

18 May 2015 | Blog

So where are we? 2 weeks on Thursday the vast majority of our cohort nationally will be sitting the penultimate Summer sitting of the linear maths GCSE as we know it and Thursday Ofqual are due to announce the findings of their research project. We were told originally to expect news at the end of ... Read more

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More numbers to consider:

13 May 2015 | Blog

I am increasingly aware of how lucky we’ve been in terms of recruitment. I’ve always said that “it” (I’m talking UK-wide here!) isn’t just about recruiting new people to the profession – we need to look at retention too. It’s a false economy to just keep throwing time and effort into feeding the funnel without ... Read more

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Tick tock, tick tock

11 May 2015 | Blog

It is that time of year when I become a bit blinkered and focus on one thing … the maths GCSE for year 11! I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing and I’m not saying that Maths is more important than any other subject, but there are accountability measures in place upon which, so ... Read more

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Election Eve

7 May 2015 | Blog

It is the day of the general election and all of the major parties are using the “we’re here at the behest of the voters” (or words to the effect) to try to win our votes. Well today I received an email from the DFE and I am frustrated and concerned about “the extent to which ... Read more

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So what makes it statisically significant?

3 May 2015 | Blog

I’ve been thinking. Following a comment on my last post about statistical significance I’m putting my hands up and saying I don’t know enough about the maths behind “significance”… there are much better equipped people out there that I am sure can inform me. All I know is that in the section where Ian Stockford ... Read more

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Miss, I did do it … I promise!

30 April 2015 | Blog

The long awaited day has arrived and I’ve been doing my own version of an impatient child checking the DFE site and clicking refresh to see if the promised findings had been published and so what a treat it was for me when THIS POST this  appeared on the blog pages of Ofqual. I was so ... Read more

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Golden Ticket

29 April 2015 | Blog

Study leave or not? that is the question! There is always some debate at this time of year about how different schools structure their study leave and lots of schools now run a “revision timetable” once the exam season starts; I have recollections of having my last day at school where shirts got signed and ... Read more

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