Secondary education in Wales covers the period between the ages of 11 and 15 by 31 August. In this period a child's education is divided into two main stages of the National Curriculum: Key Stages 3 and 4.
At Key Stage 4, only five National Curriculum subjects are mandatory (English, Welsh or Welsh second language, mathematics, science, and physical education) and schools have greater flexibility to provide optional subjects that meet the needs and interests of their pupils. The majority of learners at this key stage follow courses leading to external qualifications, principally GCSEs.[1]
Regular and systematic assessment of a pupil's ongoing progress throughout compulsory schooling is an essential complement to the National Curriculum. Its primary purpose is to provide a clear picture of what pupils have achieved against individual subject attainment standards by the end of three key stages of a pupil's school life i.e. broadly ages 6–7, 10–11 and 13–14. The respective assessments were based on a rising scale (Levels 1 to 8, and then Exceptional Performance) of achievement.
For 6–7 year olds (Key Stage 1) the general expectation is that the majority of pupils will attain Level 2 in each individual subject. For 10–11-year-olds (Key Stage 2) the expectation is that the majority of pupils will attain Level 4 in each individual subject. For 13–14-year-olds (Key Stage3) the general expectation is that the majority of pupils will attain Level 5 in each individual subject.
The system of statutory national key-stage tests in Wales was, until 2000, the same as in England, and was managed by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA). In 2000, the National Assembly for Wales took responsibility for these tests in Wales, at which point they were developed by test agencies on behalf of ACCAC, whilst the tests in England were developed for the QCA.
In July 2001 the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning in Wales announced that secondary school league tables would no longer be published, arguing that they did not have the support of either teachers or parents.[2] This reform has created a significant policy difference with England.[3]
In 2002, the Welsh Assembly decided to stop the tests at Key Stage One. Instead, optional teacher-assessment materials were provided to schools in 2003 for use in English, mathematics, and Welsh. These had been adapted from materials that had originally been developed by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and the other test agencies to be used as statutory assessment materials for 2003. At the end of 2003, the Daugherty Report was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly to undertake a review of the country's assessment procedures. Following the outcome of the Daugherty Assessment review Group in 2004, Key Stage 2 task/tests were made optional in 2005 and Key Stage 3 tasks/tests were made optional in 2006. Only results for teacher assessments were published from 2006 onwards.[4]
In 2003, the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification was piloted at Key Stage 5/6. Subsequently, Welsh Baccalaureate programmes have been introduced for study at three levels, Foundation, Intermediate or Advanced between ages 14–19 years.
PerformanceEdit
In 2013, Angela Burns, Welsh education spokesperson for the Conservative Party, said, "We've failed in our international rankings, our pupils are consistently at the bottom of the tables. There may have been improvements but we're dropping behind the rest of the UK and Europe." Paul Murphy, previously Welsh Secretary, suggested that factors preventing Welsh pupils gaining entry to top UK universities included poor perception of the Welsh Baccalaureate, and a lack of ambition among teachers. The BBC reported that an admissions officer for Oxford University raised concerns about "a number of factors, including a reluctance by some schools to encourage pupils to leave Wales, particularly Welsh medium schools". The Welsh government commented that the Welsh Baccalaureate would be revised to deal with the issues, and that Murphy's new role was intended to encourage pupils to aim high. David Evans from the trade union NUT Cymru said, "I think that every teacher wants to do the best by their pupils in all circumstances."[5]
^"Paul Murphy: Teachers 'lack Oxbridge ambition'". BBC News. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
October 21, 2023
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Secondary education in Wales covers the period between the ages of 11 and 15 by 31 August In this period a child s education is divided into two main stages of the National Curriculum Key Stages 3 and 4 Contents 1 Stages 2 Assessment 3 Performance 4 NotesStages EditKey Stage 3 includes years 7 8 and 9 Year 7 old First Form age 11 by 31 August Year 8 old Second Form age 12 by 31 August Year 9 old Third Form age 13 by 31 August End of Key Stage Three Tests and Tasks Key Stage 4 includes years 10 and 11 Year 10 old Fourth Form age 14 by 31 August Year 11 old Fifth Form age 15 by 31 August old O Level examinations modern GCSE examinations Secondary schools in Wales must by law teach the basic and the National Curriculum to their pupils The basic curriculum consists of religious education sex education personal and social education and for 14 to 16 year olds work related education Schools must also provide careers education and guidance for all 13 16 year olds At Key Stage 3 the National Curriculum consists of the core subjects of English and Welsh mathematics and science and the non core subjects of Welsh second language modern foreign languages design and technology information technology history geography art music physical education and religious education 1 At Key Stage 4 only five National Curriculum subjects are mandatory English Welsh or Welsh second language mathematics science and physical education and schools have greater flexibility to provide optional subjects that meet the needs and interests of their pupils The majority of learners at this key stage follow courses leading to external qualifications principally GCSEs 1 Assessment EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Regular and systematic assessment of a pupil s ongoing progress throughout compulsory schooling is an essential complement to the National Curriculum Its primary purpose is to provide a clear picture of what pupils have achieved against individual subject attainment standards by the end of three key stages of a pupil s school life i e broadly ages 6 7 10 11 and 13 14 The respective assessments were based on a rising scale Levels 1 to 8 and then Exceptional Performance of achievement For 6 7 year olds Key Stage 1 the general expectation is that the majority of pupils will attain Level 2 in each individual subject For 10 11 year olds Key Stage 2 the expectation is that the majority of pupils will attain Level 4 in each individual subject For 13 14 year olds Key Stage3 the general expectation is that the majority of pupils will attain Level 5 in each individual subject The system of statutory national key stage tests in Wales was until 2000 the same as in England and was managed by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority SCAA In 2000 the National Assembly for Wales took responsibility for these tests in Wales at which point they were developed by test agencies on behalf of ACCAC whilst the tests in England were developed for the QCA In July 2001 the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning in Wales announced that secondary school league tables would no longer be published arguing that they did not have the support of either teachers or parents 2 This reform has created a significant policy difference with England 3 In 2002 the Welsh Assembly decided to stop the tests at Key Stage One Instead optional teacher assessment materials were provided to schools in 2003 for use in English mathematics and Welsh These had been adapted from materials that had originally been developed by the National Foundation for Educational Research NFER and the other test agencies to be used as statutory assessment materials for 2003 At the end of 2003 the Daugherty Report was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly to undertake a review of the country s assessment procedures Following the outcome of the Daugherty Assessment review Group in 2004 Key Stage 2 task tests were made optional in 2005 and Key Stage 3 tasks tests were made optional in 2006 Only results for teacher assessments were published from 2006 onwards 4 In 2003 the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification was piloted at Key Stage 5 6 Subsequently Welsh Baccalaureate programmes have been introduced for study at three levels Foundation Intermediate or Advanced between ages 14 19 years Performance EditIn 2013 Angela Burns Welsh education spokesperson for the Conservative Party said We ve failed in our international rankings our pupils are consistently at the bottom of the tables There may have been improvements but we re dropping behind the rest of the UK and Europe Paul Murphy previously Welsh Secretary suggested that factors preventing Welsh pupils gaining entry to top UK universities included poor perception of the Welsh Baccalaureate and a lack of ambition among teachers The BBC reported that an admissions officer for Oxford University raised concerns about a number of factors including a reluctance by some schools to encourage pupils to leave Wales particularly Welsh medium schools The Welsh government commented that the Welsh Baccalaureate would be revised to deal with the issues and that Murphy s new role was intended to encourage pupils to aim high David Evans from the trade union NUT Cymru said I think that every teacher wants to do the best by their pupils in all circumstances 5 Notes Edit a b DELLS Secondary 11 16 Welsh Assembly Government Secondary school league tables to bne scrapped in Wales League tables different approaches https www webarchive org uk wayback archive 20080720101634 http new wales gov uk docrepos 40382 40382313 statistics schools 1152752 swep2006 swep2006 glossary pdf lang en bare URL PDF Paul Murphy Teachers lack Oxbridge ambition BBC News 18 April 2013 Retrieved 25 June 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Secondary education in Wales amp oldid 1120824217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
