ALL
London branch 
ALL
London branch |
Last update: 21/08/2012 |
Severe Grading in MFLHow do grades in languages compare with grades in other subjects? Click on the links below. They will either go to separate pages giving detailed information and support (from which there will be a download) or directly to a downloadable document. Detailed paper on Severe Grading Useful points for discussing/analysing exam results Process & related articles (chronological - most recent on top)
Current
Situation:
Updated
March 2012 with data from DfE Performance tables and RAISE
|
 | Severe Grading: GCSE Page |
| GCSE 2011 Numbers Page and comments including A* issue |
| Severe Grading: A level Page |
| A Level A* issue Page 2011 |
| AS/A2 Numbers Page |
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Downloads:
| Word
document Summary of analysis of ML figures for GCSE 2011 (updated March
2012)
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| Word document report and comment on GCSE 2011 incl concern about proportion of GCSE top grades ; |
| GCSE Numbers spreadsheet download |
| PDF ALL report on A levels |
| Word document A level A* issue 2011; |
| AS/A2 Numbers -extract spreadsheet download |
| AS/A2 Numbers - full spreadsheet download |
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Some external links
| Alarm over decline in pupils studying languages: www.independent.co.uk |
| Interview with Nick Gibb: www.bbc.co.uk |
| Nick Gibb comments on A-Level results: www.wired-gov.net |
| -GCSE results 2011: One in four entries gets A or A*: www.guardian.co.uk |
| -GCSE results - live blog: www.telegraph.co.uk |
A detailed study has been carried out using national data in order to compare the grades obtained by pupils in languages with the grades in other subjects. This shows clearly that pupils of the same prior attainment will, on average, obtain lower grades in languages than other subjects at both GCSE and AS/A level.
Because this data is drawn from PANDA and DCSF sources, it will be invaluable for members preparing for Performance Management, Threshold Applications, annual Examination Analysis (including discussion with Heads and Governors) and OFSTED/Self Evaluation Form.
The outcomes from the study have been endorsed by the recently published research from the Durham University Curriculum Evaluation and Management Centre (home of ALIS and midYIS, Yellis, PIPS) and reported in the Times Educational Supplement 31st March 2006.
| 9th April 2006 |
4 page statement followed by detailed appendices giving sophisticated analysis of KS3. KS4, AS and A level results |
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Sample statements which may be helpful when explaining the situation to colleagues, managers and OFSTED |
| August
2012 |
Downloads:
Word document: Analysis of A-Level Results June 2012 Word document: A level A* issue 2012 Excel spreadsheet: Statistics from JCQ
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| August 2011 | All
pages below
Downloads:
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| September 2010 | BBC
Radio 4 - You and Yours, 15/09/10. Helen Myers invited to talk
about Severe Grading following Flashmeeting organised by Joe Dale.
Webpage with context, weblink and embedded audio file. |
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| August 2010 |
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| Link
to TES article 'Languages decline deepens'
Link to Independent article 'Class divide opens up in teaching of languages' |
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| October 20th 2008 | Ofqual
seminar on inter-subject comparability:
Powerpoint: Presentation Document: Accompanying text Document: Report on seminar from Helen Myers |
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| September 4th 2008 | Document: Guidance on raising queries about GCSE grading | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 23rd 2008 | Document: 'How to compare your results in ML' - informal guidance following a question on TES forum. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 23rd 2008 | ALL press release following publication of GCSE results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 21st 2008 | ASCL press release following publication of GCSE results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 21st 2008 | Published statistics on numbers doing GCSE June 08 and grades obtained | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 20th 2008 | Press
release from ALL, ASCL & ISMLA
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| February 19th 2008 | QCA
report 'Grade standards in GCSE modern foreign languages'
This document provides QCA's response to Lord Dearing's view that the award of grades in GCSE languages is more demanding than for most other subjects. BBC article. reporting on QCA report + press release. |
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| January 2008 | Reply from Christine Gilbert (HMIC i/c OFSTED) in response to letter from John Dunford about the impact of CVA on schools with compulsory languages. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 2007 | Reply from Ken Boston to letter on severe grading. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 2007 | Letter to Mr Jim Knight on severe grading and change in profile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5th 2007 | LibDem written question put by David Laws | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5th 2007 | 'Modern language GCSEs lowest in years' article in Guardian reporting on written Parliamentary Question from David Laws | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2007 | Letter on Change in Profile and Impact on Grading | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2007 | Letter on Severe Grading sent to Ed Balls, Ken Boston,Lid King and Ron Dearing from 80 Language Colleges at Language College Conference, Oxford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 2007 | 2003-2007 points to grades AQA French Linear Grids | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 2007 | Published statistics on numbers doing GCSE June 07 and grades obtained | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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June 4th 2007
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Response from Alan Johnson to letter sent
in May
Letter from Alan Johnson to say that he has asked the QCA to conduct a review and is awaiting their advice on whether or not to change grade boundaries. |
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May 9th 2007 |
Letter
urging Alan Johnson to respond immediately to the Dearing recommendation
regarding severe grading
Letter sent to Alan Johnson from ASCL, signed by John Dunford (ASCL), Duncan Byrne (ISMLA), David Mansfield (SSAT) and David Wilson (ALL) |
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| March 12th 2007 | 'Too
hard' modern language GCSEs may be made easier
Guardian article following publication of Dearing Review |
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| March 2007 | GCSE
French comparability study 2004-2005
(QCA) |
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| March
2007
|
Powerpoint
presentation online relating to ASCL conference, March 2007
Powerpoint presentation used by Dr Robert Coe at the ASCL conference - link to site |
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| March
10th 2007
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BBC
News article from ASCL conference reporting on Dr Coe's presentation to
the conference.
Some GCSEs 'easier than others' - web page Extracts: Pupils who opt for "easier" subjects such as sport or drama rather than sciences or languages could achieve higher GCSE grades, research suggests. A Durham University study concludes some subjects are easier than others - because of the way exams are graded. |
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| October
2006
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Proposal following meeting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
October 2006
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ALL / QCA / Exam Boards Meeting report Report of meeting held between representatives of ALL, QCA and exam boards in October 2006
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| March
31st 2006
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Addenda
to original statement
Additional paragraphs to be inserted into original statement following further analysis in light of CEM analysis (post 31.3.06) |
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March 31st 2006
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Drama and PE are soft options' - TES (link to be added) Study from Durham CEM challenges exam chiefs' claims that every subject is equally difficult. 'They concluded that, students, whatever their ability, would be more likely to achieve good grades in subjects such as drama and P, than in science and languages' |
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January 2006
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Original statement original (Jan 06) 3 page statement followed by detailed appendices giving sophisticated analysis of KS3. KS4, AS and A level results |
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October 5th 2004
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Language Barrier - The Guardian Report of drop in take-up at KS4, includes comments on comparison of grades achieved by pupils in different subjects |
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| June 2004 | A Level Regression statistics + graph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Powerpoint
slide showing graph plotting
"difference between the subject grade and the average of other subjects taken by the same pupils" v "the average score in other subjects.". The graph forms a clear pattern from top-left to bottom-right with French and German at the extreme bottom-right (along with Maths and Sciences) - it is perhaps no surprise that on average, those who do French get the highest average A level scores .. |
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| June 2004 | PANDA Relative Performance Index for A level 2004 - raw data before turned into a graph |
