Page 14 - link magazine

14 swindonlink.com • July 2011
Tutor seeks more independent testing in schools

and an end to low expectation culture
Parents need more independent tored and reported. taken and failed,
and objective assessment of their There is now an or are virtually
child’s educational performance imbalance between upon them.”
so that they can step in whenever objective external In 2010 only
Splat Cooking (Swindon) their child needs extra help, claims assessment and in- 49.9% of Swindon
Cookery workshops for David Parkinson of Aspire Tui- ternal assessment students attained
children and adults tion. And they must shun the false in school, and a the government’s
Cooking parties idea that the ability of their child to real risk of parents minimum target
Saturday Morning Club succeed academically is dependent not getting the full of 5 A* to C GCSE
And much, much more... on their genetic inheritance. picture.” including English
For further information contact In a series of letters and emails David’s views and Maths.
Steph on 01793 771922 or to MPs and Ministers, David, right, are supported by David asks,
e: [email protected] has told them that many parents of Professor Peter “how many par-
www.swindon.splatcooking.net
children at both primary and sec- Tymms, Durham ents of the 50.1%
ondary school who come to Aspire University’s Head of Education that did not achieve the target last
are shocked by their child’s inability who claims that teachers’ inherent year would have sought extra help
to meet age-appropriate standards, bias means that their assessments for their child had they known the
Splat Link Ad-V2 45x65mm.indd 1 1/2/11 17:19:28
and angry that they have not had could not be used as an objective true position?”
the true position made clear to them. measure of pupil attainment. Equally worrying, in David’s
Since the abolition of SATs at Key He added, “this lack of inde- opinion, is the tendency by some
Stage 1 and 3, David has witnessed pendent and objective testing has parents to attribute academic
Summer Holiday Arsenal Soccer School a dramatic reduction in the number clearly induced some parents to success, and failure, to genetic
August 2nd, 3rd and 4th of parents seeking extra tuition for believe that their child is doing inheritance.
for boys and girls aged 5 to 15 years, their children at the end of Years OK when they are not. As a result, “As both a private tutor and
with pro footballer and 2 and 9. many students who would have school teacher, I have had many
pro freestyler in attendance He argues, “this has happened presented at the end of Year 2 in parents say to me something like,
Everyone welcome - you don’t because there is now simply too the past are now not arriving until ‘Oh I was poor at maths at school so
have to be an Arsenal fan much reliance on subjective teacher much later when they are even that’s where my child gets it from.’
Matchday Experience, Emirates Cup reporting. With only one remaining further behind. “Government has to be active
31st July (Children must be accompanied) independent academic assessment “Also students who may have in driving out this myth and en-
For details and to book call 07872 579864 / in 12 years of education - at the end been brought to us at the end of courage parents to do all they can
07872 580270 or book online at of Year 6 - teacher assessment is Year 9 are now arriving late in Year to help their child succeed rather
www.playthearsenalway.com now virtually the only vehicle by 10 or even mid-Year 11 when their than simply letting them give into
www.playerssoccerschools.co.uk which children’s progress is moni- GCSE exams have either been part- a culture of defeat.”

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