Nutshells #84 Apr 09

THE 84TH EDITION FOR ALL PLYMOUTH TEACHERS APRIL 2009

SATs—What’s the point? A Headteacher writes: You might remember the furore caused by the “SATs fiasco” last summer, and the controversy over the standard of marking and delays. Most parents were told their own children’s results in the summer, or autumn if the school didn’t get their papers returned in time. I’m still not yet satisfied with the outcome of our appeals against some of the shoddiest marking I have seen. All our last year’s writing papers were re-marked and the scores were adjusted on every paper. One child’s work was marked down by l8% and another increased by l4% - that’s an error range of 32%! That the marking agency expects us to pay for the remarking might be seen as a cynical way of deterring schools from challenging their marking. The match between socio-economic and SATs data is clear. So if individual pupil scores might have errors and the validity of school data is questionable why are our oldest primary pupils still subjected to the current SATs system? Scotland? Wales? SATs have been significantly changed for 7 year olds and abandoned completely for secondary schools, and of course Scotland and Wales don’t do them. So why do our KS2 children still have to?

Do parents actually want them? I don’t know any parent who has told me they think they are useful. Some people like them because they sometimes confirm their own view of their school as doing well. I have known other parents get angry when league tables publicly humiliate whole communities — usually the communities that already face some of the most difficult circumstances. So they don’t seem to inform anyone about anything they don’t already know. As a professional body, most teachers recognise the importance of assessing children’s progress but are against such assessment being used in the way they are. Last year the school data wasn’t ready for the beginning of the autumn term, but they made absolutely no difference to the children starting their secondary school. So why do we still have SATs? Parents don’t need them; many children don’t like them and most

professionals oppose the way they are used. It seems that the only people who want to keep SATs are politicians. I have always supported the idea of trying to keep politics out of education — so is it time to get rid of SATs? The argument is clear - it’s time for SATs and league tables to go. Good News! Both the NUT and the NAHT will propose a SATs boycott from next year at their Easter annual conferences—a full Conference Report will be included in the next edition of NUTshells

THE NUT: “We work up to a standard not down to a price” Independent of Government and not affiliated to any political party

There are no trust schools or academies in Wales or Scotland. In Wales all the teachers enjoy the complete support of the STP&CD. Standards have not fallen because they don’t have these politically-inspired types of school. There is no justification for any Plymouth school to lose its local accountability and community status. Due to weak or complete lack of consultation parents and governors will find it difficult to find out the arguments opposing trust and academies. Widewell and Stoke Damerel are now trust schools—will yours be next?

Teacher Goes To Africa—Dave Parry, who was the NUT Rep at Ernesettle Primary, is spending a year in Tanzania helping student teachers with IT. The working language is English but Dave’s learning some Swahili. We hope to hear from him on his return.

The symbolic

Caption Correction: dove of WahatSchoolgirls from Qurtuba Girls School al-Salam/Neve Hebron on their way to school

Shalom, where Jewish and Palestinian children learn

Children are taught in both Hebrew and Arabic with a balance given to history etc. “Dealing With Conflict” is a teaching pack produced for use in UK secondary schools written by a UK teacher. More information: www.oasisofpeaceuk.org

Levelled Out by Plymouth In English he can’t spell at all And he doesn’t punctuate NUT President He rarely speaks or listens Rob Barratt Dear parents, carers, kith and kin Please find herein enclosed, Your child’s latest assessment grades Set out in verse, not prose

Recently sacked bankers limber up for fast-track teacher conversion courses...

Assessment for assessment’s sake May seem to you irrational But here are Robert’s latest An NUT member since grades 1978 Rob Barratt His levels - curriculum was installed as national the new

Plymouth NUT President at the AGM in March. Rob has been a teacher since 1977, working in secondary, primary, FE and special education in Kent, Plymouth and Cornwall. Since 2005 he has been Year 10 teacher at Longcause Community Special School in Plympton where he is also the NUT rep, teacher governor and international coordinator. At Longcause he is particularly involved in residential visits, drama, recycling and Global Citizenship. He is a member of the Cuban Solidarity Campaign, Amnesty International, the Co-op and Bodmin Folk Club. Rob’s interests include writing and performing as a stand-up poet and singer, visiting his three grown-up daughters, running, walking, playing football, cycling and travelling.

In Citizenship he’s a 7.5 He’s such a lovely person In Art he’s easel-y level 4 In French he’s got a worse ‘un In Food Tech he’s a 5.2 As cool as a cucumber In History he’s a level 6 (The Prisoner’s old number) In ICT he’s level 3 He doesn’t yet “Excel” In Maths he’s level 2.2 So he’s not doing all that well He’s a spirit level in DT And in RE- it’s true! In Music he’s just brilliant So he’s level 42

Committee Volunteers—can you help? Vacancies exist for Plymouth Committee Members including Black Teacher and Disabled representatives. For further information contact us [see page 4]

Moved schools? School name changed? New address? Update your membership records at HQ Call 0845 300 1666

So he’s level 1.8 His PE levels have been levelled down For a level playing field And if you level out all his levels The truth will be revealed Your level-headed little lad To whom I am referring On average has a level score Of 5.6 recurring This figure projects a levelling effect On his predicted GCSE’s (Not that we are worried about Our 30% A’s to C’s) And now fill in the slip below Please do not eat or burn it We’d value any comments, please Here’s hoping you’ll return it - - - - - - - - - - tear off- - - - - - -

Parents’ reply: We love these lovely levels They bring us a level of joy But from this report, retain one thought He’s not a number, he’s a boy

Has your school rep changed? Call David on 01503 240527 so we can update our records

It’s Official ! The NUT is the largest teaching union: NUT 292 238 NASUWT 265 202 and the NUT is the second largest headteacher union ANSWERS ♦Every US President went to school—except one Andrew Johnson ♦Every US President has spoken English as his first language—except one Martin Van Buren ♦Every US President has been married—except one James Buchanan ♦Every US President has been raised as a Protestant—except one John Kennedy ♦Every US President has been voted in as President or Vice President—except one Gerald Ford ♦Every US President has either finished his term or died in office—except one Richard Nixon ♦Every US President has been elected for one or two terms—except one Franklin Roosevelt ♦Every US President has been a white male— except one Barack Obama

Your timetable should show all PPA periods-it’s the law! Due to the workforce reforms you should not prepare or mark work for your class when you have PPA time

Plymouth Division: [email protected] 01503 240527 Regional Office: [email protected],uk 01392 258028

PENSIONS SEMINAR Future Inn Plymouth from 4pm on 21st May Exclusive to NUT members