For the first time in 27 years, I have no personal stake in the GCSE results that are released this morning. I did not teach Year 11 last year, so I will not be poring over statistics to explain the performance of my class to my superiors in school.
Sadly, statistics, ‘value added data’ and performance metrics too often eclipse what today should be all about: young people who, perhaps for the first time in their education, were left in an exam hall with a sheet of questions and a ticking clock.
When grade inflation strikes, no interest is ever paid on grades already in the bank
As teachers we can do so much, but when those students go into that room, they are on their own. The results they receive today do not belong to their teachers, and certainly not the government, so let’s just say well done to one and all.
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