The Waugh Scale of Schools: Some Aren't Even Schools
Alex Massie 5:33pmAs is customary, one prefaces this post with the observation that there are very many fine state schools and many others, a good number of which are also grand, that do tireless work in demanding circumstances. Nevertheless...
According to government data released today, in England last year there were:
For context: there are 3,100 secondary schools in England. So one in six didn't enter pupils for Chemistry, Biology or Physics GCSE (though, presumably, a good number of them did enter pupils for general "science" exams involving elements from each f the distinct disciplines?). Still, 4% of schools entered no pupil for geography and 2% none for history.137 schools where no pupils were entered for geography GCSE
57 schools where no pupils were entered for history GCSE
30 schools where no pupils were entered for a modern language GCSE
219 schools where no pupils were entered for French GCSE
1,067 schools where no pupils were entered for Spanish GCSE
516 schools where no pupils were entered for any of the individual science GCSEs
On the Waugh Scale of Leading school, First-rate school, Good school and School I'm not sure some of these even qualify as School. Which, as you know, is bad news since, between you and me, School is pretty bad.
[Hat-tip: Mr Rentoul]
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Mike Stone
February 10th, 2012 7:35am Report this commentHow about English, maths and computer science? They're the ones that really matter.
Sir Graphus
February 10th, 2012 12:48pm Report this commentOf these schools, I bet there are many labelled "Outstanding" by Offsted.
William Marshall
February 10th, 2012 2:57pm Report this commentlong live the standard grade, higher and Advanced Higher, more choice, better subjects
escapedRoger
February 10th, 2012 3:19pm Report this commentDear Mike, those are compulsory .
When I was at school there was 'General science' available in the 4th year (year 10 in newspeak) so that the classics/languages pupils would have something of science before concentrating for their 'O' levels , the maths/science types then did separate sciences and 'additional maths',as maths and english language were also done in the 4th year. These days doing an exam 'out of cohort'( not in the year of your age group) doesn't count for school league tables. after the 'pupil level data collection' by the DoE (or whatever it's called at the moment).
Kingstonian
February 10th, 2012 3:46pm Report this commentMike Stone
February 10th, 2012 7:35am
Computer Science, as taught today at GCSE, is a total waste of time. Pupils are taught how to put together a Powerpoint presentation or how to enter data into a spreadsheet. I was going to say it's like teaching Maths by showing pupils how to use a calculator, but that is too close to being the truth.
In the Far East, Computer Science involves teaching programming languages, preparing them for real, reasonably well paid jobs in the very real companies that want to employ them.
Is anyone surprised that so much software development work has migated East?
salieri
February 10th, 2012 6:41pm Report this commentDid you not see that question from last year’s (GCSE) combined science paper?
Qu 1: Deepak’s study group is learning about the moon. Which of the following would help him?
(a) a microscope
(b) a periscope
(c) a telescope
(d) a stethoscope or
(e) a spectroscope?
Qu 2. Can you say why?
Baron
February 13th, 2012 9:58pm Report this commentsalieri, whoever set the questions must have expected the pupils to answer (c) definitely, but (e) and (a) may have been of use to the group, too, the former to dissect light radiation from the moon, the latter to examine bits of the rock collected, brought back by a number of Apollo missions.
is Baron right?
salieri
February 14th, 2012 8:03pm Report this commentYes, Baron is right. He gets an A?* - the query denoting bein' clevah.
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