Page 15 - link magazine

EDUCATION MATTERS
15
Primary schools take on a testing challenge
RON AHRENS
The assesment of seven year olds in primary schools has recently attracted a lot of attention. Without doubt,
BUILDER
the demands on teacher time are considerable; would their time be better spent on teaching children, rather
than testing? The Link was invited to visit Freshbrook School in April to find out what is going on. DECORATOR
Specialising in all aspects
Are they tests or not? The 1988 schools. "We're taking the SATs The staff atFmshbrookSchool are of high quality
Education Act introduced the no- very seriously and teachers have expecting the SATs to support their building work
[ion of testing children at different spent a great deal of extra time in own judgements of a child's abili- especially decorating.
stages of their school lives, the spur background planning and prepar- ties and see the exercise as helping carpentry & plastering.
being to give parents the chance to ing the necessary materials. them focus on what each child needs.
compare schools and thereby en- 'We had a broad picture of how As Mr Gurney says, "The SATs will
courage schools to improve per- the SATs might be carried out but it benefit children if they help teachers All work guaranteed.
formance through competition. was unfortunate that the detailed continue to review, develop and No job too small.
Although the politicians have guidance on how to use the assess- improve their teaching practice." Free estimates
been using the pass/fail, success/ ment procedures arrived just four Parents will receive information Telephone: 692134
failure, neatness of the word test, weeks before we were supposed to individually later this term about (West Swindon)
what is going on is a long, time- put them into practice. how their child performed in the
consuming process of assessing "The Education Authority has been SATs. At present the Government is
children's abilities ma range of tasks. supportive in arranging training and not requiring schools to publish the
Teachers carried out a series of the schools has its own budget. We results of the SATs. Nor are schools PB PLUMBING
personal assesements on each child have been able to provide some ex- required to submit the information
throughout the Easter term, using tra back-up for the seven teachers gathered so as to allow Local Au- SERVICES
the requirements of the National who are carrying out the assess- thority comparisons.
Curriculum as their benchmark ment." Teachers very much want this to • Boilers Serviced
During the first part of this term, Seven year old Daniel Coxhead reads to be the case. Also for the future, the • Pump
each child will takepart in a number Freshbrook School teacher Cally Savory SATs have to simplified and the Fitting Service
of Standard Assessment Tasks heavy administration removed. • Water
(SATs) to formally measure the work Perhaps most important, the top- Softeners
done last term. These tasks focus on ics for assessment have to be varied. Fitted
If they remain the same,what is now
English, Maths and Science, and can I • Washing
be practical, oral or written. Some a wayof findingouta child's learning Machines and - -
SATs involve children working in needs will become just a pass/fail
small groups, some require teacher test. Teachers will then come under Dishwashers Installed
and child to work individually, like pressure to ensure that children get Tel: (0793)
reading together. through it, rather than help them
Although the whole assessment acquire a broad education. 642995
exercise was conceived as takingten
hours over a three week period, ac-
cording to Freshbrook School head Haydon End Lane
Philip Gurney the whole process HURSEMEO Entrance of Lady Lane and
will take much longer and will run ©1 WOCK Westfield Way, Haydon Wick
until half term, and impose costs on Tel: Swindon 721221
VISIT YOUR LOCAL
GARDEN CENTRE
Invitation to parents to THIS WEEKEND
visit Grange Park School Car Boot Sale • Trees Shrubs
There's a chance for parents to visit Saturdayl 1 May • Alpines. Heathers
the new school serving Grange Park, gam - 1pm • Conifers Roses
due to open in September, to view
the facilities and meet the Link Centre coach park • Herbaceous Perennials
headteacherSteve Menham in May. Boots: £4; £5 Contact: • Bedding Plants, Geraniums
CPEN DAlL])
The informal open evening at J. Hillier on 873168 & Fuschlas. Hanging Baskets
Tregoze School will be held from
Proceeds to West Swindon • Rockery and walling stone• Discounts on all composts
7.30pm on Thursday 23 May. Car Focus or, Under 5s
access is off Hay Lane PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE YOUR HTA GIFT TOKEN WITH US

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