The withdrawal of KS3 tests

The educational topic for November is the demise of KS3 tests which came as quite a shock to us last month. It is the suddeness of this announcement that is most surprising. We have seen a gradual shift in Government interest from progress between KS2 to KS3 and KS3 to KS4 to progress over the whole secondary school age (KS2 - 4). So KS3 tests have become less important to the Government. The problems with marking and administering the tests has, I'm sure, accelerated their withdrawal.

The withdrawal of the tests does not upset me because I do feel that pupils are tested and examined too much. The English tests have been consistently unreliable and English teachers across the County have little or no faith in them. The system for marking the papers was always far less reliable than for GCSE. On the other hand, the results, particularly in Maths, have proved reliable and useful.

The consequences of this sudden withdrawal of the tests has presented us with some problems. We will need to test pupils in Maths, Science and English (as well as other subjects) towards the end of Year 9 to give us information in order to group them into sets and advise them about their "options". This year is still a challenge to Year 9 pupils and their progresss is important in terms of preparation for GCSE courses. Our target setting system is based on KS2 test levels, as are the Government's figures by which they judge schools' progress. The withdrawal of the tests has resulted in the Government having to withdraw a number of targets by which they measure schools.

So we have seen the end of KS3 tests - well maybe! We haven't seen the end of a culture of targets and measuring achievement. So, although we have seen the withdrawal of some targets from Government, we await their replacement with bated breath. I am sure we will see new measures in the new year. They may not require exams in the same way as KS3 tests but I am sure they will require us to measure pupil progress in some way.

Welcome back to a new half term

Welcome back to a new half term - a very busy few weeks which will see us celebrating pupils' achievements at Awards Evening on13 November (last year's Yrs 7 - 10) and Certificate Evening on 4 December (last year's Yr 11). We have all sorts of evening events taking place during the half term which may be of interest you:

• Friends' Christmas Market - Thursday 20 November from 5.00pm - 8.00pm in our school dining hall. Please come and do some Christmas shopping with us, whilst supporting the school. Admission is by programme £1 for adults, with under 19s free.
• Rodborough Young Musician of the Year Competition - Wednesday 26 November, 7.00pm (details to be circulated soon).
• Friends' Science Lecture - Friday 28 November 2008, 7.00pm. This year's speaker is Mr Henstone-Sturdy from our Science Department and Astronomy Club. Details to be circulated soon.
• Christmas Music Concert - Wednesday 10 December, 7.00pm.
• Year 7 Disco - Friday 12 December, 8.00pm.
• Christmas Carol Concert - Wednesday 17 December, 7.00pm at Milford Church.

Further information about these events can be obtained from Mrs P Ward on 01483 411100 or e-mail pward@rodborough.surrey.sch.uk.

We look forward to a successful half term's work, particularly for Year 11 who will be sitting their mock GCSE exams in December. I am sure the hard work you have put in over the last months will pay dividends. The mock exams will give you valuable preparation and experience for the GCSEs next summer and highlight areas where you may need to concentrate your efforts over the next few months.