Monday 4 September 2017

Too many top schools cheating the system

What your report on the grammar school which "boots out kids to keep up its league-table scores" omitted to include was the fact that the school in question, St Olave`s, insists on all entrants passing an exam at the age of 11, and also has a high threshold for entry into the 6th form (Morning Star, 30/08/17). The pupils excluded for failing to achieve 3 Bs in the interim exams had already proved themselves twice to be academically brilliant, so refusing them the opportunity to study in year 13 is inexcusable. Management, it seems, is more intent on  their school rising to the top of the examinations` league table, than giving all of their pupils the opportunity to take A levels. The welfare of the pupils matters not a jot, it would appear!
What makes this more annoying is the fact that these clever students will be welcomed at nearly all universities, regardless of whether they get grades A, B or C, and many of them will exceed expectations at higher education. One would also think that the teachers would relish the challenge of improving the grades of these pupils from the ones attained in year 12, something that most teachers find extremely rewarding.

 The current system of league tables imposed by recent governments encourages such behaviour in these "exam factories". If there have to be league tables, lets have one which concentrates on rewarding schools which aim to maximise the opportunities for all pupils, and offer them a level playing field on which to do so.

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