October 2012

Wednesday, October 31st A response from Ofqual to a Freedom of Information request, published last week, offers fresh insights into this year’s GCSE English grading controversy. Followers of my regular blog on the NAHT’s website will need no reminding that I’ve been taking quite a close interest, having posted several lengthy pieces on this and the related issue of Ofqual’s “comparable outcomes” policy for controlling apparent grade inflation. Ofqual itself is due to publish its final report on this year’s problems on Friday (November 2nd). This latest set of correspondence has been released under FOI to blogger and tweeter Antony Carpen, following an earlier requestRead More →

Friday, October 12th, 2012 I’ve just caught up with a very interesting Radio 4 documentary on “free schools”, which aired last night. The piece prompted quite a few thoughts, but I was particularly taken by comments by, I think, Jeremy Rowe, the head of Sir John Leman school in Beccles, Suffolk, about the possible long-term impact of a new school – a “free school” – which opened in the town last month to make two secondaries there. Mr Rowe’s concern was that although Beccles Free School has so far struggled for pupil numbers, in time it might take pupils away from Sir John Leman andRead More →