Is your school going to continue with the KS3 ICT test?

[Ric_]

@CyberNerd: The cross-platform support isn't a major issue for us since we are primarily a Citrix-based environment. The poor implementation for TS is an issue however, and one that we experienced first hand last year.

 

@Midget: During last year's trial we had to stop all but the testees from using the thin client machines (i.e. nobody in the school could do anythging while the tests took place!!!).

[Midget]

@Midget: During last year's trial we had to stop all but the testees from using the thin client machines (i.e. nobody in the school could do anythging while the tests took place!!!).

 

The inspectors will have a dim view of that.

[RoyG]

@Ric_

*alternatives - Web2.0, serverbased jboss etc

......NOTHING?!

 

RoyG

[beeswax]

I was told at the end of last week that we would be running it.

[User3204]

Yeah, we'll be running it,

 

According to the Head of IT, it will provide an introduction to "alternative GUIs". It's certainly easier than installing Linux as a dual boot on some machine.

[kxv2020]

We'll be running to so it provides staff with continous assessment data... Assessment is at the heart of the school's plans for improvement ...[and ofcourse OfSTED] so it's a must, although there won't any pressure to squeeze it in this year.

[dustmite]

I've been informed by our SMT and KS3 coordinator for ICT that we are to go ahead with the test whilst it is still available.

 

However, we're not overly bothered about how well/badly it goes, per se. Our concern is primarily that it keeps Ofsted, and our lovely friends from the Inspection and Advisory service at the LA happy.

 

It's easier to keep those who judge happy than to have to provide justification as to why not.

 

'Course, I've had to get RM... sorry, I mean, the NAA (I do love that) to send me the Software all over again after one of my team got a wee bit overzealous at the news. Our old KS3 Test Server found itself being dismantled and used to make a new all powerful CAD/CAM PC. I do love my staff...

[Ravening_Wolf]

Has anyone found a sure-fire argument to convince their SMT/SLT to drop this steaming pile of you-know-what? I'm loathe to waste any more time on something which has been rendered worthless.

[bossman]

I have been advised by SLT that we are to continue for the time being just so they can gather more data before the slow demise over the next two years. Not bothered which way it goes as we had no big problems with it.

[GrumbleDook]

We have said that we should scrap it this year as it will have little use for the existing year 9 students. Instead we will start using it for formative assessment with years 7 & 8 next year then 7, 8 & 9 the following year ... purely as a method of feeding into the Teacher Assessed Level.

 

Pretty much what is being suggested for it actually.

 

We can use other products to do this (GOAL Online) and may look at developing stuff once we have sorted out what VLE we are moving to in the county ... but since this is free and we have gone through the hard bit we might as well use it properly.

[dezt]

I have had no contact from SLT about this, and the head of ICT has no idea. So it's been left to me to make the decision about the tests, so we're not doing them, why make more work for myself.

[kingswood]

So- here's a question: are the KS3 tests now compulsory, "up to you", or are we to continue doing them until something changes? I ask because I have been told that though they are not compulsory we are to do them for the whole year group until and unless the government change it.

 

Any links I can look at?

[localzuk]

They are 'up to you' as far as I know. We are doing them. I have just spent part of today sorting out the server side of the system. RM don't half make some assumptions! Like you having to have a drive with no quota's on, having to delete any user called 'postgres' or 'tomcat' etc... Not good assumptions to make.

[GrumbleDook]

They are optional .. and will remain optional for the next few years.

 

The idea is that they should be used as a programme of ongoing formative assessment throughout KS3 rather than just an end of KS3 test.

 

We have ditched them this year, but they will be part of an ongoing programme for years 7 & 8 next year, then rolling into 7, 8 & 9 the year after ...

[kingswood]

Thanks people. I knew I had picked up the "way things are" correctly and wasn't going (completely) mad. Mmmmm. I think I will have an interesting meeting tomorrow then.

[AbhHba]

Not a chance, never wanted to do it, never agreed with the flawed badly designed and implemented load of rubbish from day 1. So we never even ran it in any way with a single student. SMT agreed, ICT advisor looked sheepish!

[russdev]

Key here is general feeling of what will happen is that when your inspected by ofsted/hmi etc they will ask to see what your are using to inform your teacher assessment levels (to make sure they are correct). So along lines your not using the naa software what are you using?

 

To be fair to the new software it has some very good points to it. But don't worry lot of other exams boards are using it

 

Russell

[f21970]

We have decided to abandon the KS3 testing as the results from the test are not accurate for assessment purposes. If the data which results cannot be used there is little use in pupils doing the test!

[russdev]

We have decided to abandon the KS3 testing as the results from the test are not accurate for assessment purposes. If the data which results cannot be used there is little use in pupils doing the test!

 

Are you sure maybe it is other way around

 

Russell

[georgebush]

I think we've got out of it To cut a long story short we nolonger have the software or media or infact anything to do with it apart from an account on their website in school. I requested they send it out to us and explained to circumstances and they agreed, that was over a month ago and its not arrived.

 

How does it work anyway? Its not worse than Promissor is it?

[Sylv3r]

We will continue to use it and have signed up to Field Trial the Modelling Tasks in January.

 

Never had any issues with the software so that is why we are continuing with it, as well as a method in which to assess or students.

[RoyG]

I took great pleasure in removing all traces from our network a couple of weeks ago.

 

R.I.P.

 

RoyG

[beeswax]

We're going ahead with it as well, with pupils tackling it in their own time.

[Oops_my_bad]

I took great pleasure in removing all traces from our network a couple of weeks ago.

 

R.I.P.

 

 

Damn you /envy

 

We are using it here for "on the spot, unofficial" assessment, so teachers know how well the kids are doing

[tech_guy]

We dumped it as soon as it was announced the govt were shelving them.