Prior to the release of the SAMs last week I received a message saying that Pearsons new “new” SAMs had been bounced back again. I’m not and never have been privy to the details but didn’t follow this up publicly (I do have some scruples!) for fear of scaremongering people and as it turned out … Read more
So I’ve finally gotten a response from Nick Gibb and I suppose in a roundabout way he hasn’t said that the accreditation process was or wasn’t flawed but that lessons have been learned. He states that he is confident that we can trust the comparability of the SAMs and that we are in an excellent … Read more
Now that we have Sample Assessment Materials (expect a lengthy blog post later this week as I’ve been working through them) some of this is somewhat “background” but also me reflecting on the bo77ocks that are public sector organisation putting “spin” on things. It’s also me finally making publically available some of the letters from … Read more
If not now, then when? …. I’ve been a bit vague about my trip up North a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been ill this weekend – hence the “radio silence” … flipping flu!!. I didn’t mean to veil the whole thing in an air of mystery but a few weeks ago I got asked … Read more
It’s the eve before the 30th June 2015 … let’s call it forevermore “SAMs Eve”. If I’m honest I’m worrying that I’m going to get visits from (ok so it’s a poor frame of reference but you gotta give me points for trying!!): The ghost of “GCSE’s past” who’ll take me to scenes from … Read more
Following my call to Nick Gibbs office on Monday (Post -> HOTLINE TO NICK GIBBS OFFICE ) I chased for an update on the “Good” pass having sent a link to my blog post where I mentioned the students caught up in the grade-shift upwards. It’s great to see that Mark Dawe from OCR is “on song” … Read more
I know, I know! I promised to post a blog on Monday but it’s all a bit mental at the minute – I have about 300 emails in my “justmaths” inbox (so bear with me as I work through them … I am trying but at this rate it may be the Summer holidays!). Yesterday … Read more
Just a quickie post and I’m intending on posting a “proper” post this evening but it’s been a truly mental couple of days. Friday was an early start as I travelled to Manchester as part of my day job as a teacher for a “getting ready to teach the new GCSE” training event **waves to … Read more
So it wasn’t a dream – when I wrote THIS POST. On the one hand we’ve got answers and I applaud that, but on the other hand I’m not convinced this has been thought through in terms of its implications. Let’s take a step back to September when the original grade equivalencies were set out … … Read more
I am gutted that I can’t make the Maths Conference that is going on this weekend in London – I’ve been invited to another “thing” … don’t get too excited, it’s just I don’t know how much I can and can’t say about it yet but if I get the “green light” I will let … Read more
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