i DUCATION
E
www.educationi.co.uk
THE MAGAZINE
FOR EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
PRIMARY 11+
SECONDARY
UNIVERSITY
What tests will primary children in the UK sit?
How to help your child prepare for GCSE’s
Brexit and the impact on university fees
Issue MAY – JULY 2018
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EDITORS NOTE: Dear Readers We are excited to bring you our launch issue of Education i. Published every quarter, we aim to bring relevant educational news to the discerning parent. Mindful of the limited time parents have, we try to keep our main articles short however, the full versions can be read online on our website www.educationi.co.uk As we approach summer and eagerly await some more sunshine, we are aware of the various exams children have to sit over the next few months. With Year 6 SATs having just been completed, we are currently focusing on GCSE’s and the 11+ exams. In this issue, we consider how parents can help their children with GCSE preparation and provide tips on preparing for the increasingly competitive 11+ exams. Primary school tests are also explored. In addition, with Brexit decisions in the pipeline, we consider its effect on University fees. Should you wish to contribute or advertise in Education i, we would love to hear from you. Simply email: info@educationi.co.uk
Sandra and the Educationi team
FEATURES New Primary school tests GSCE Preparation tips Grammar schools and 11+ tips Brexit and University fees
Education i is independently published and distributed online. Its aims are to keep parents informed of current and topical educational information. Our intention is not to publish any rascist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We also undertake not to carry any advertising which we consider could be offensive to young families or harmful to the best interests of young children. The opinions expressed in either the editorial and in advertisements with this publication are not necessarily those held by the editor or publisher. While we take great care with the compilation of information within this magazine, neither the editor not the publisher will accept any liability for the accuracy of the editorial or advertising contained therein.
WHICH TESTS WILL UK PRIMARY
SCHOOL CHILDREN SIT? There is nothing we like more than a test in the UK, and age is certainly no barrier to our desire to know how much they know. If you have a tiny tot and wonder what they might face between now and the age of 11, then read on. What follows is a list of tests primary school children may face. Baseline Assessment - Next year there will be pilot schemes for testing children in Reception within the first few weeks of school. Instead, at the age of 4 or 5, the classroom teacher will ask students to complete a test to show what they can do before any teaching has taken place.
Phonics Check - Phonics is an important tool for learning to read and learning to spell. At the end of Year 1 your child will take a test, in a one-to-one setting – to test if they are grasping phonics or not. KS1 SATs - SATs at the age of 7 are said to be coming to an end in 2023 – or made optional. This is to be replaced, in theory, by the baseline assessment. Until 2023 there are proposals for these tests to be externally marked, so teachers can be held more accountable. KS2 SATs - Everyone is aware that Year 6 students are expected to take national tests in reading, writing and maths. 4
There are also higher-level tests where the student may exceed Level 6. The data from the tests indicate how well the teachers teach and well the school is led – in theory. Times Tables Test - It is hoped that 8 and 9-yearolds (Year 4) students will know all the times table – well enough to complete a test and pass. 11plus - For those parents who hope to send children to selective grammar or independent schools, there will be a requirement to take the entrance examination known as the 11 plus. This examination is taken at the end of Year 5 and the beginning of Year 6. It is not just a pass/ fail either. The quality of the mark can
impact on your place on a waiting list, should your child not automatically get a place in your chosen school. Common Pre-Tests - are age-standardised tests used to measure attainment and to gauge potential. This is taken in Year 6 or Year 7 – or before the student enters secondary school. Your child will still need to take a common entrance examination in Year 8 – or the 13+, which is similar to the 11+ but adapted for age. Try not to worry too much. Generally, the rule in education is that anything with the title test is important to the school; anything with the title examination is important to the student.
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New 11+ grammar
school reminder service launched A new service has been launched to remind parents about important educational dates. RemindMum.com will send text messages reminding you about open days, deadlines for submission of registration forms, exam dates, mock tests and more. The service has been launched initially with reminders specifically for grammar school entry, with plans to include reminders for educational events in schools, colleges and universities in the pipeline. Sandra Nicol founder of RemindMum.com says “with so many dates to remember, some parents missed out on school places because they simply forgot or were not aware of the relevant dates.” Deadlines for the submission of application forms, supplementary forms, appeals, to open days and the list goes on. For a small fee RemimdMum.com will send you text messages reminding you of important dates if intending to get your child into a grammar school. Simply choose the school area, make the payment and wait for RemindMum text reminders. Easy and effective! www.remindmum.com www.reminddad.com
Due to the competitive nature of the 11+ exams, it is imperative that your child is well prepared.
10 TIPS ON MAKING 11+ MOCK TESTS COUNT 6
1. Book a variety of mock tests with reputable providers for maximum exposure. 2. Ensure your child knows they are booked to sit the mock test. 3. Arrive at the venue on time, so that your child is relaxed. 4. Stress the importance of timing and accuracy to your child. 5. Remind your child not to be distracted by anyone else in room. 6. Check your child’s ranked results in relation to the cohort. 7. If feedback is provided, strengthen all weak areas. 8. If given access to the questions, go over challenging ones. 9. Do not focus only on the feedback provided by the mock test. 10. Remember, a mock test is not final. Be positive regardless! For more information please visit: www.MockTestMasters.com
GRADES PREDICTED BY VOCABULARY Academics have discovered that four out of ten pupils in secondary schools have such limited vocabulary that they are unable to do well at school, and research from the Oxford University Press involving eight hundred secondaries, suggests the problem is worsening. “Too little reading for pleasure” and the limited number of words some children come into contact with on a daily basis (including conversations with parents, siblings and friends) is sited as the main cause of this increasing trend. 80% of teachers surveyed said children with limited vocabulary would find it “extremely challenging “ to understand test papers. Also a very high proportion of teachers said the “word gap” would inhibit progress in English (91%), History (90%), Geography (86%) and Religious Studies (78%).
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders and an English teacher of 32 years, says however “…the word gap will depend on your circumstances (home, family, richness of language and relations, presence of books and conversations etc) rather than your choices. These are things largely beyond our control” Parents should therefore do everything possible to introduce their children to books from an early age by reading to them, and encourage them to develop this interest as they get older by investing in a wide range of books that would feed their imagination and expand their vocabulary!
The 11+ Holiday Learning Club is now taking bookings for 2018. The club runs from 30th July to 17th August for 3 weeks. Suitable for Year 5 children within commutable distance of Wallington, Croydon and Sutton. BOOK NOW Visit www.holidaylearningclub.com or call 0208 064 1011
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How to help your
child better prepare for GCSE EXAMS You are in the final stretch. There are just a few months left before your child will have completed all examinations and have left school. It is likely you have one of three different moods in your teenager right now. First, infuriating nonchalance – what exams? What pressure? Second, calm acknowledgement of the task ahead and steadily working through the required tasks and activities. Finally, and potentially most common, blind panic leading to overwork and exhaustion or a decision to just not work at all. You might feel powerless. It is difficult to see your little person go through such an important milestone – and in your mind they are still your little person. Yet, there are things you can do that will ease the way to the exams and beyond. Here are just a few:
Know the examination dates Encourage the creation of a schedule Build in time off for treats Suggest some revision activities Keep it in perspective These are just a few ways of helping your child better prepare for GCSEs. Hopefully, these tips will help you feel less powerless in this stressful period.
To read the full article, please visit www.eduactioni.co.uk
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Just being around and offering a moderating voice may well be enough to help your little person navigate this stressful time. Whatever happens – you need to realise that this period will be over soon, and you can get your normal teenager back.
Brexit: the impact on higher education On average, employees with a degree earn £9500 more per year than employees without a degree. However, Teresa May admits that students in the UK are faced with one of the most expensive education systems in the world, which begs the question as to whether studying for a degree is a worthwhile investment in the current political and financial climate.
the full cost of the tuition fees and graduates begin to pay back these loans once they’re earning at least £21,000. The Minister for Science and Universities has confirmed that -
Tuition fees – 2018/9 For students starting a course in 2018 - at a university in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland - tuition fees are capped at £9,250 per year. Almost all universities are charging the full amount – or thereabouts – for entry on to one of their courses. In Wales, the fees are capped at £9,000 per year. Financial support Currently, the Student Loans Company (SLC) provide tuition fee and maintenance loans to all eligible British and EU citizens studying at
a UK university. Tuition fee loans cover
EU students starting a university course in England, Wales or Scotland in 2018 will be eligible for the ‘home fees’ status mentioned above. They will also be entitled to receive the SLC tuition and maintenance loans. Moreover, any EU national who has started a course on or be
fore this date will be guaranteed to receive ‘home fees’ status and SLC support for the full duration of their course – even if Britain exits the EU before the end of their programme. In addition to tuition fees, students can apply to receive a maintenance loan to help with their living costs. The amount of loan received will depend on an applicants’ income, place of study and the length of their course. A student living in halls in a central London institution is likely to receive a yearly maintenance payment of £11,000. By the time they’ve graduated, they’ll have racked up debts of £33,000 in living costs alone!
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Value for money? With many graduates leaving university £50,000 in debt, it is important to scrutinise the value for money universities are offering. Indeed, a degree is now an essential requirement for entry onto many career paths. As such, some students feel as if they have no choice but to go university. This allows universities to become somewhat complacent regarding the quality of education they offer because they’re confident they will attract sufficient applicants regardless. Interestingly, it may be women who benefit the most from going to university. Women who attend university make, on average, £250,000 more over a lifetime than women who choose not to. This figure drops to £170,000 when you compare the same amongst males. This may be because there are more typically male-oriented careers that don’t require a degree compared to female-oriented ones.
Fair and equal? Since tuition fees were tripled in 2012, there has been a proportionate decrease in university applications from state school students – suggesting that current fees may be preventing poorer members of society from considering university. Furthermore, the scrapping of maintenance grants in 2016 has meant students from medium to low income families have had to carry an even greater burden of debt on their shoulders.
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Today, there are a limited number of grants available to disabled students, or those claiming certain benefits – as well as some financial assistance for students with childcare needs. What’s ahead? Although fees for 2018 have largely been confirmed, we are unaware of what will happen to tuition fees post-Brexit and beyond. Given that the government has stated its desire to reduce net migration to 100,000 people per year from 2019, it’s likely that fees will dramatically rise for EU applicants as university places for overseas students will be in high demand. In addition, it’s possible that tuition fees will rise for British students too. After Brexit, higher education institutions will no longer be receiving money from the European Structural and Investment Funds – a source which contributes up to £100 million annually. In addition, some have predicted a dramatic reduction in teaching quality post Brexit as there’s likely to be a “mass exodus” of EU academics across the country. Although the situation doesn’t look great for students – perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom. The current government have proposed reducing the current interest rate of 6.1% on student loans repayments – a change which will hopefully take effect by next year. This would provide students with a better value investment as it would reduce the overall term of the loan and go some way towards reducing the financial strain experienced by many graduates. To read the full article, please visit www.educationi.co.uk
JOB VACANCIES WANTED TUTORS Qualified teachers or tutors required to deliver GCSE revision courses in Maths, English and Science in the Wallington area. Interested? Email: info@ exampassmasters.com INVIGILATORS Do you have some spare time and would like to generate some extra income? 11plus Ltd is looking for freelance invigilators to work in Barnet, Bexley, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Croydon, Dartford, Essex, Finchley, Kensington, Kent, Kingston, Maidstone, Medway, Orpington, Slough, Sutton, Wallington, Watford and Woolwich. For more information, please email info@11plusmocktests.com
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The easy way to remember important educational dates! Just released… • Reminders for Grammar school dates Coming soon… • Primary school dates reminders • Secondary school dates reminders • Independent school dates reminders • University dates reminders
VISIT www.remindmum.com