2019 figures show drop in progress in key subjects
A DECLINE in progress levels of pupils in States-run schools in key subjects is shown in new figures.
The data gives some context to the 2019 GCSE results, when there was a drop in overall grades for the first time since 2015.
In 2019 there was a fall in the number of key stage two pupils who had made ‘at least expected levels of progress’ in English and maths, compared with the previous year.
At key stage four, the expected level of progress in English stayed roughly the same over 2018 and 2019, but in maths there was a downturn.
The data is shown in the latest facts and figures booklet produced by the States.
Figures for 2020 were not collected because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
In recent years, ‘progress’ has become a new measurement in education under the philosophy that all pupils should benefit from each year of their schooling.
The progress measurement is preferred by some educationalists rather than raw measures of attainment, because it should reflect the work of the school, rather than the talents of individuals within schools.
However the criteria has also been criticised as too crude, with the aim of holding schools and teachers to account rather than benefiting teaching and learning.
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller highlighted the dip in progress levels during a recent States meeting and asked what was being done to address the ‘worrying trends’.
In particular she flagged up that barely half of pupils in the GCSE years were achieving the ‘least expected level of progress’ in maths.
Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea-Dudley-Owen responded that it was very dangerous to pick up certain statistics and try to draw concrete, definitive results.
The new education strategy and the way States schools are governed are two big changes which will aim to drive up standards.
Although 2019 GCSE results worsened across all headline measures, they improved significantly in 2020 when there were no exams and the results were based on teacher assessment. It is not possible to compare the Bailiwick’s results with the UK’s because since 2017 the UK has used a different measurement system.
Maths was the most popular A-level subject among Bailiwick students in the 2019/20 school year, followed by extended project and sociology.
The most popular level three subject during that year was creative and digital arts, with health and social care and public services coming next.
