Getting rid of levels and level descriptors....

smallholder · Getting rid of levels and level descriptors....

Education Secretary Michael Gove also announced today that the current system of levels and level descriptors – which is confusing for parents and bureaucratic for teachers – will be removed and not replaced.

http://education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00210127/newnatcurric

wotton

Does that mean more tests?

wotton

"These four operations are not in the current primary curriculum."
So what have we been teaching if not the 4 operations, I'm confused!

"introduce foreign languages from age seven at the start of Key Stage 2."
We've been here before and most schools still teach a foreign language as far as I know.

Where has this guy been living Mars Shocked

WolfPaul

wicked witch

So if there are no levels then how will you know if a child has achieved the correct standard? And they certainly aren't dropping SATs. Presumably it will go to being a pass or a fail exam. Didn't we used to have something like that and call it the 11+????????????

Oh, and there will probably be an extra test slotted in at the end of year 4 to check that nobody is falling behind Twisted Evil

bloott

Or is it going to be ticky lists to see if the child meets end-of-year age-related expectations? Gulp - I already know the anser to that one... same as our delightful phonic tests... hey ho - what will they throw at us next?

If they do go for ticky lists - can I have some to measure my parents by please to see if they meet their parental obligations to their children? I already know the answer to that one too mind!

smallholder

I think we can rely on Mr Gove to do the intelligent thing....perhaps he will get rid of the levels and keep the sub levels!!! Laughing

Night Garden

I am actually glad the levels are going. Not sure I will be happy with what may replace them but I am so tired of children been seen as just a level.

I'll go and hide again Smile

eric_the_red

[quote="wotton:458130"]"These four operations are not in the current primary curriculum."
So what have we been teaching if not the 4 operations, I'm confused!

I think he means for fractions. Ie children have to be able to use the four operations with fractions in primary.

wotton

[quote="eric_the_red:458252"]

thehawk

happyhighlandcoo

I agree the levels are confusing to children and parents, been telling children and parents levels this week and some of them are so confused by the c b a thing, confused further now by us giving levels with a + if they're better than one but not quite at the next like 4c+. Maybe a switch to just APS would be better so it is numeric and children can see they got 20 points last year and 24 points the next year and know that moving up 3 points is good, more is great. I imagine the tick lists and pass/fail is more likely though. Hoping the coalition collapses before 2014 and labour sort themselves out.

It is such a shame that they get so fixed on it too, had a mum telling off her child yesterday for getting reading 4b, writing 4c and maths 3a for her end of year 4 scores because she wants 4b for everything and I had to tell mum off a bit and say they were brilliant results. Grrr. They get so obsessed and competitive.

Rainbow_Bright

Personally don't mind the levels and think our children and parents do understand them as we have been working with them so long now and explain the progress. Also don't think levels, grades or whatever makes much difference to competitive parents or children. An average point score would have the same effect of some parents expecting a higher score.

Basically, however we have to measure attainment it is the measuring itself which is the problem, not how it is measured imo. And as long as schools are rated or slated on SATs scores, attainment has to be measured.

Night Garden

smallholder

I'm finding it interesting reading people's views on this. I wonder if P levels will go too? I suppose they will as they are meant to be a precursor to NC ones.

thehawk

I just hate that some children are (say) 3a in writing but still aren't punctuating their sentences correctly. 3a then disguises the fact and makes it sound that they are doing Ok, when they are not. (this is what is happening in my class this year)

Rainbow_Bright

wicked witch

I'm really intrigued by this decision. I came into teaching just as the national curriculum was introduced for Eng, Maths and Science in 1990 and so I've always used levels. I certainly don't think that it's true that parents don't understand them. I'm really concerned by what they may bring in instead.

teacherman

I am quite sceptical of the document as, unless I have read it wrong or I am cynical, what about under/lower achievers. If it is prescribed exactly what a child in a certain year group should be being taught during that year where is the scope to teach them basic skills which would effectively be in a previous year group's teaching so might become an oh well it's too late for that scenario?

teacherman

keepsmiling1

I just presumed that all children would be at the same level as the class won't be able to be moved on until they are!

sweepings

I hate the level thing too. I think that it makes teachers move on too quickly because you are always looking at the next thing - children don't have enough time to consolidate things.

From a parental point of view I also hate it. At my children's secondary school they are obsessed with whether they have reached their target or not. Nobody ever talks about what they can actually do, just whether they are a secure 7!