"Improving Learning" = Higher test scores

[Trekkie_Aspie]

No, they don't. They test memorisation. That's a difference between learning and memorising. Higher test scores indicate improved memory. No, you can't memorise every answer but there is such a thing as past paper and memorising all the potential types of answer the examiners want.

Case in point: When I did SAT work, there was a question on the maths paper that was to do with division: I tackled it the way I had been taught. When we got our papers back, that answer was correct. I had no idea WHY it was correct - I just spat out the steps that were taught that didn't make much sense to me. As far as I understood, you put this bit down then that bit down and that somehow led to that bit. What I did was essentially walk blindfolded, leaving nuts over my shoulder. I had no idea where I was going, I had no idea what I was doing, I was just throwing the nuts.

I think you grossly underestimate how much time SATs, GCSEs and other exams take. Remember, schools are judged on these scores in league tables. League tables determine things like funding so what's the best way to get more funding? Everyone needs more money.

Upper Schools here get judged on how many students get at least five GCSES - A*C including English, Maths and Science. Note that this is judged on the grades at GCSE and nothing else. GCSE is from Yr10 - Yr11. Upper school is for Yr9-Yr11

First off, the Yr9s are rather neglected, except maybe they're tracked to see where to put them in Yr10. This leads to three groups:

A: Will never get 5 A*C, including English, Maths and Science
B: May or May not get 5 A*C, including English, Maths and Science
C: Will always get 5 A*C, including English, Maths and Science.

In any given subject, there would be a spectrum of abilities - quick rundown on the grades first though:

A* A, B, C, D, E, F, G, U

U is a failure - A*-G is a pass.

A* is the best grade possible.
A is the next best thing
B is still impressive
C is a high pass
D is officially a pass but it's treated as a fail anyway,
Same for E
Same for F
Same for G
An ungraded is a failure


You teach a subject, let's say, woodwork. Management is on your case about getting those league tables up. You need the extra funding for new equipment, anyway.

Of your borderline grade students, you have:

Adam is an A*/A student (Do nothing - he'll get an A, help - he'll get an A*)
Emerson is an A/B student
Lesley is a B/C student
Raven is a C/D student
Evelyn is a D/E student
Dee is an E/F student
Jess is an F/G student
Pearl is a G/U Student

You only have time to help one of these - you need to get as many Cs as possible. Go on, pick someone to help.