UPDATE ON CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT CHANGE Jon Beck Deputy Headteacher Hamble Community Sports College June 2015
Change is a- coming
Objectives of session Ensure that parents and carers are familiar with the changes to the curriculum. Ensure that parents and carers understand the changes to assessment at KS3 and 4. Ensure that parents and carers know what is meant by Life after levels. Give opportunities to comment on progress reports and give suggestions for improvement.
Where are we now?
Where are we now? From September 2014 all GCSEs linear and can only be sat in June except for re-sits in English and Maths for 16 year olds. Introduction of spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) marks in English Literature, History, Geography and RS. Some specifications tightened to ensure students cover whole syllabus (Geography, History and English Literature).
Where are we now? Speaking and listening no longer included in English or English Language grade. Exam now 60%. Early entry: first rather than best result. Vocational limited options and more demand. BTEC external examinations. Overall impression is that qualifications are harder.
Where are we now? New National Curriculum teaching since September 2014. Entitlement for every student in maintained schools to study and take a qualification in one Art subject, one Humanity, one DT and one Language. Levels have been abolished. KS2 tests remain in English and Maths with a view to replace in 2016.
Where are we now? Performance tables now focussed on Progress 8 and Attainment 8. Participation age raised to 18.
From 2017 Maths and English reformed for first teaching from September. Linear exams with extended writing tasks. No centre assessed components. Greater content. Tiering in Maths not English. Grading changes: 9 to 1 scale. No longer single English GCSE; students required to study both Language and Literature.
From 2017 (current Y9) Maths and English reformed for first teaching from September 2015. Linear exams with extended writing tasks. No centre assessed components. Greater content. Tiering in Maths not English. More problem solving and application in Maths.
From 2017 No longer single English GCSE; students required to study both Language and Literature. Grading changes: 9 to 1 scale.
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science).
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science). Ebacc subjects, art and design,
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science). Ebacc subjects, art and design, design and technology,
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science). Ebacc subjects, art and design, design and technology, drama, dance, PE,
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science). Ebacc subjects, art and design, design and technology, drama, dance, PE, citizenship, music
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science). Ebacc subjects, art and design, design and technology, drama, dance, PE, citizenship, music and religious studies will be redesigned as new GCSEs for first teaching from 2016 (exam 2018).
From 2017 Double combined Sciences or Separate Sciences (no Single Science). Ebacc subjects, art and design, design and technology, drama, dance, PE, citizenship, music and religious studies will be redesigned as new GCSEs for first teaching from 2016 (exam 2018). A firm decision about which subjects will be in this list is still awaited.
From 2017 Linear but other decisions about these subjects not finalised. Other subjects most likely in the following year. Students may have two different grading structures for 2 or 3 years.
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
So the main points Lots of change! More content especially factual knowledge. More difficult content. Linear assessment. Reduced/eliminated centre assessment. Extra SPaG. Changes to grading system. Changes to accountability and performance measures.
Performance measures Progress 8 Attainment 8 English and Maths A*-C (and beyond) English Baccalaureate
Accountability measures how do these help parents?
Attainment/Progress 8
Hole in my bucket? 3 buckets: Double weighted Maths Double weighted best of English Language or English Literature if both taken. Best 3 Ebacc subjects: Sciences Computer Sciences History Geography MFL Best 3 other qualifications Can be GCSE or approved non-gcse Can be English Literature or Language (if not used in Bucket 1)
Point scores The current point scores will be simplified to a 1-8 scale with 8 being equivalent to A*. For the new GCSEs, there will be a numerical grading system: 9-1. For a while, students will receive qualifications with both systems.
Attainment 8 (A8) Essentially an average point score for the student. The school s A8 is an average of the A8 score for every student. Easy to understand but does not take into account the starting point of the student.
Progress 8 (P8) P8 is the Attainment 8 minus the estimated Attainment 8 score. Estimated Attainment 8 score is based on the average Attainment of all pupils nationally with the same prior attainment at KS2. School P8 is an average of all the P8 scores for students in the cohort. Floor standard = -0.5
Dividing her Progress 8 score by 10 (6 + 2 double weighted subjects) gives an average score of + 0.5 grades, which means that Gillian has achieved an average of half a grade better per subject than other pupils with the same prior attainment.
What is the point of P8? Double weighting of English and Maths gives importance to these subjects. Ebacc bucket ensures emphasis given to traditionally academic Ebacc subjects. Dividing P8 scores by 10 ensures a broad, balanced curriculum with an academic core.
Estimated grades In 2016, the estimated grades to achieve a positive P8 will not be known in advance. From 2019, estimated grades will be set 3 years previously, using 2016 results so that information is available to schools from Y9. Then 2020 estimates will be set from 2017 and so on.
English and Maths A*-C Still a very important measure.
English Baccalaureate Is important for filling Buckets 1 and 2. 5+ A*-C in traditionally academic subjects: Sciences, Computer Sciences, History, Geography, Modern or Classical Foreign Languages. For all new Y7 in September, study of 5 key Ebacc subjects compulsory (read as 7 subjects). Schools Ebacc results will still be published: Percentage of students entered for Ebacc Percentage of students achieving Ebacc Nicky Morgan has announced that a school can not be rated outstanding if less than 100% of students are studying the Ebacc.
The considerations for
How does the linear approach affect mapping the curriculum? Outcomes: We are mapping our curriculum to encourage retention of knowledge and understanding. We are changing our approaches to ensure that retention is clearly prioritised.
How will linear GCSEs affect how we teach? Outcomes: We are changing and adapting our schemes of work and teaching methodologies to include revisiting. We are changing and adapting our schemes and teaching methodologies to include opportunities to link topics and concepts together.
How does our adoption of PiXL methodologies affect the teaching and assessment in the faculty? Outcomes We are adopting the PiXL Personal Learning Checklist approach and build it into our curriculum planning: Personal Learning Checklists > Map knowledge, skills and understanding against the National Curriculum > Regular testing... Back to beginning. We are developing and adopting the Diagnosis Therapy Test methodology and build this into our planning. We are embedding the use of fine grading to track progress and give precise, tailored intervention.
How will assessment at whole school level affect planning and delivery of schemes of work? Outcomes: We are changing our current formal assessment arrangements to give students more opportunities to practice building and recalling knowledge.
Key whole-school changes we have implemented so far Refining of the options process: ensuring that students get the right options to maximise their chance of success. Refining the curriculum to ensure that all subjects offered are credible for students to move onto their next phase. Ensuring that students have opportunity to get a full suite of qualifications to stand them in good stead for getting into good Colleges/Universities or getting good apprenticeships.
Life after levels Levels were removed for National Curriculum Teaching from September 2014. Challenges for schools. Important to get it right. Investigating and researching approaches and solutions including at the commercial level. We will continue to use attitude to learning scores.
Reports and reporting OFSTED take into account: The school s engagement with parents, carers and employers helps them to understand how children and learners are doing in relation to the standards expected and what they need to do to improve. The OFSTED criteria include: Teachers provide pupils with incisive feedback, in line with the school s assessment policy, about what pupils can do to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills. The pupils use this feedback effectively.
Statutory reporting requirements Information that must be reported Years 7 and 8 Year 9 Years 10 and 11 General progress X X X Brief particulars of achievements highlighting strengths and developmental needs How to arrange a discussion about the report X X X X X X Attendance X X X Grades for GCSE Other qualifications or unit grades X X
Your views: A full report currently contains: Current grade/level from previous progress review Current grade/level for this progress review Predicted grade/level from previous progress review Predicted grade/level for this progress review Target grade/level Aspirational target grade/level Attitude to learning homework and organisation; active learning and effort; behaviour Progress comment and target for improvement