The Folders
The mystery of why I didn’t hear from the moderator has been resolved. She hadn’t received the folders!
Her neighbour had taken them in on the Wednesday – our agreed moderation day was on Thursday – but then was out all day Thursday until late in the evening. By the time she was able to collect them from the neighbour, the window we’d arranged had passed and so she moderated them over the weekend.
I finally heard; all were ok and all passed with no queries. Relief. I knew they were ok, but I still couldn’t be complacent; who knows how the human mind works sometimes?
So with the confirmation email received, I told everyone. ‘Everyone’ being all the schools so they could claim the points (the headteachers love it that they can use them at no cost or effort!) and my bosses. Got back some nice reassuring “Well done”’s.
Then a couple of days later I was talking to a big boss. He brought into the conversation the fact that however many outcomes we gain for the young people we work with, it only counts as one. In other words, our results are guaged by the number of young people who receive a recorded outcome or accreditation, not how many they achieve. In the youth service (or Integrated Youth Support as it’s now known), that can be anything from an internally awarded certificate recognising that a young person has improved his behaviour to the Level Two qualification I work with them to achieve.
Anyway, I told him I know that, which is why the only one I go for is a quality one. Actually, that’s not strictly true, as I do help them achieve other stuff, but I only use the one with cost implications (for registration, etc.).
He came back with, “But not everybody is capable of delivering that.”
I’m getting the feeling that there might be some dumbing down wanted in the name of consistency across the county. He hasn’t said so as yet, but with an Ofsted inspection looming, it could be…
I hope I’m wrong. Especially as I’ve just started working with some young people on progression to a Level Three qualification!
Does Carpe Noctem et Diem mean seize the night and day?
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RYN: Well I know Carpe Diem means seize the day so I am assuming noctum means night in Latin.
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Congratulations on getting all your students through. Oh, surely you won’t be expected to aim lower in future, for consistency? I think that’s crazy!
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Congratulations! I hope you’re wrong about the dumbing-down, but even if you’re not, they can’t take away what you’ve achieved.
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I knew that it was something like that with the folders. I find that any type of testing of students is more about what they expect of teachers. This can be miracles at times. RYN: That’s neat that you’ve been there. I think it is a safe place to visit. We only go once a year. It is closed all winter.
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Dumbing down…welcome to America! …
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RYN: Okay, we have half price fuel. But out here in the American West we need a car to go anywhere. If I wanted to take a bus, it’s seven miles from my house to the closest bus stop. We are putting in light rail in Phoenix. Billions and billions of dollars. In 2020 it forecast to be within 2 miles of my house. By then, if I’m alive, I’ll be in a wheelchair and on oxygen. Phoenix Skyharbor (the airport) is 25 miles away. But the way things are going, all the airlines will soon be bankrupt! So then I’ll have to take the train. Closest depot is in Maricopa, 50 miles away. Hell, I should just plan on staying home!
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No, don’t give up! (Says she who hardly knows you…) but what we do is all about the kids isn’t it, and getting the best possible for them. Don’t give up and give in to numbers and dumbing down. I’m sure even OFSTED would want you to achieve the very best you can, not reduced what everyone achieves. You are an example to follow and you sound as though you do an amazing job with your youngsters.
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