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
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
Last weeks guest posts from Julia Smith ( To Infinity and beyond ) and Ian Hollis ( Why I turned up for Saturday School ) went down a storm so I cheekily emailed Darren Macey at OCR to see if he fancied a visit to my blog … he said yes!! (and who wouldn’t? … have you noticed the blog has had … Read more
So here is my “Hit List” of revision topics > HIGHER HIT LIST for paper 2 …. Remember we use the 1MA01 series from Edexcel so this list doesn’t apply to any other board! And as always you are entitled to your opinion … but this is what we’re going with. Overall the first paper was … Read more
I have previously written about the background behind the National Reference Tests and the fact that Ofqual had considered making them “compulsory for all” IN THIS POST well the good news is that it looks like this isn’t going to happen after all. I have read the PUBLICATION TODAY from Ofqual providing an overview of the new reference tests and … Read more
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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