3.3.1

Measuring Educational Success

Test yourself

Measuring Educational Success

Educational achievement is how a pupil is doing with regards to academic attainment. This is measured in several ways.

Illustrative background for National curriculumIllustrative background for National curriculum ?? "content

National curriculum

  • The national curriculum was introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988.
  • Its aim was to ensure the same content and standards in education across the nation.
Illustrative background for SATs Illustrative background for SATs  ?? "content

SATs

  • (Standard Assessment Tests).
  • SATs are tests taken initially by 7-year-old pupils at the end of Key Stage 1 in reading, writing and Maths.
  • Then these tests are taken again by the 11-year-old pupils in English and Maths.
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SATs cont.

  • The results obtained at the end of Key Stage 2 are compiled to make the primary school league tables.
  • League tables are a measure of performance of pupils based on their exam results.
Illustrative background for GCSEsIllustrative background for GCSEs ?? "content

GCSEs

  • (General Certificate of Secondary Education.)
  • GCSEs were introduced in 1988.
  • GCSE exams are taken by 16-year-old pupils are the end of Key Stage 4.
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GCSEs cont.

  • The pupils are awarded a grade for each subject.
  • Until 2017 the grades were A*-G but since then it has changed to a numerical ranking and it is now 9-1.
  • GCSEs are public examinations. This means that they are set by a central examining body.

Measuring Educational Success

Educational achievement is how a pupil is doing with regards to academic attainment. This is measured in several ways.

Illustrative background for EBaccIllustrative background for EBacc ?? "content

EBacc

  • (English Baccalaureate).
  • EBacc is a performance measure which is awarded when pupils secure at least a grade C in five core subjects:
    • English.
    • Maths.
    • Sciences.
    • Languages.
    • History or geography.
Illustrative background for Progress 8Illustrative background for Progress 8 ?? "content

Progress 8

  • Progress 8 was introduced in 2016.
  • This is a performance measure for secondary schools where they try to gauge the progress of pupils from the end of primary school until the end of secondary.
Illustrative background for GCEs/ A levelsIllustrative background for GCEs/ A levels ?? "content

GCEs/ A levels

  • (Advanced Level).
  • A Level exams are taken by 16- to 19-year-old pupils.
  • Initially, pupils had to study 4 subjects at AS level and 3 subjects at A level.
  • This has changed to a two-year linear course.
Illustrative background for A level reformsIllustrative background for A level reforms ?? "content

A level reforms

  • The latest reform was in 2015 when the A levels were divided in AS and A level.
  • Pupils will either sit the AS exam or if they decide to do the whole A level course they can sit the AS exams at the end of the first year but that won’t count towards their overall grade.
  • The results are put into league tables and are a measure of performance.

Jump to other topics

1The Sociological Approach

2Families

3Education

4Crime & Deviance

5Social Stratification

6Sociological Research Methods

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