The government has revealed the key stage 2 attainment and progress scores schools will have to achieve to avoid falling “below the floor”.
In 2017, a school will be above the floor if at least 65 per cent of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at key stage 2, or if it achieves “sufficient progress scores” in all three subjects.
This year, the required progress scores are -5 in reading, -5 in maths and -7 in writing.
The required scores are the same as they were in 2016.
The floor standard is the minimum standard for pupil attainment and progress that the government expects schools to meet, and schools need to meet either the attainment element or all three of the progress elements.
Documents released today also reveal that schools will avoid intervention from regional schools commissioners if low writing scores push them below the floor standard.
This new exception is outlined a paper which sets out how RSCs and councils should deal with “schools causing concern”.
In 2016 and 2017, if a school drops below the floor standard or is labelled as coasting “based on performance in writing alone”, councils and RSCs “should not intervene or issue a warning notice”, the document says.
Intervention in these circumstances should only happen “where the extent of the change in performance cannot be explained by the impact of the changes to primary assessment arrangements”.
I believe any school that asks students to leave because they have not done well in the first year of A Levels, mainly because the school,or college are looking at raising their stats, should be asked for details of their Monitoring and student support system, including evidence of the kind of Careers Advice and Guidance that had been offered to those students, together with any mitigating circumstances.
If illness prevented sufficient progress, then why not retake, but when it is clear that the wrong subjects have been chosen then something is really wrong, especiallynfor those students who reached a ceiling at GCSE snd perhaps should have been advised to look at alternatives such as Apprenticeships and/or College courses.
Unfortunately providers offering only A Levels now, and not vocational subjects or a mix, are doing a disservice to students and the curriculum should be looked at carefully. It is the students who matter, their mental health and well being and when these aspects are neglected, students will fail, lose self-esteem and suffer further mental health problems – mainly because sufficient and approrpraite advice and guidance is not readily accessible and given by non-biased and often inexperienced personnel.