they know andrew Page 12 caroline it’s all over hammond: nokes: hidden committee Page 3 education contender Page 7 SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 | EDITION 30 An insight into life after levels Education blogger David Didau (right) tells a London conference that the freedom to replace levels is a “wonderful opportunity” Schools urged to enter pupils for a fast-track ‘GCSE’ This is not a con trick, says company chief Pupils must pass an exam (after three days) EXCLUSIVE Members were told that some JOHN DICKENS schools were planning to run three @JOHNDICKENSSW days of intensive classes preparing pupils for the online exams – once School leaders are being urged to their other GCSEs were completed. enter “vulnerable” pupils into fast- PiXL is a not-for-profit tracked ICT qualifications, taught organisation that charges schools in just three days, to ensure they up to £3,200 a year to join. In achieve five A* to C grades. return, schools receive access to The PiXL Club, an organisation conferences, online resources and that aims to raise attainment in development programmes, all with schools, has this week sent emails the aim of improving exam results. encouraging its 1,300 members Another email, circulated to PiXL to consider enrolling pupils for the members, said: “There are many European Computer Driving Licence reasons to consider this course over (ECDL) qualification. the longer term but the interest in It is worth the equivalent of a it short term is to avoid students GCSE in school performance tables. ending up with English and maths PiXL suggested enrolling and only two others [GCSEs]. “vulnerable” pupils who could take “It happened quite a bit last year the exam as an “insurance policy” and caused considerable upset. It is to ensure they got five GCSEs. a good well-established course with The email also said the a future as well as a past. Many qualification would contribute schools have plans longer term and towards a school’s value a lot are using it this way for this added scores. Continued on page 2 See full story on page 4 WHERE DO SMART TEACHERS GO? See pages 8 & 9 2 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 EDITION 30 NEWS ‘This is not a con trick,’ says PiXL chief SCHOOLS WEEK TEAM CONTINUED FROM FRONT Editor: Laura McInerney JOHN DICKENS @JOHNDICKENSSW Head designer: Nicky Phillips Exclusive Designer: Rob Galt year. It is over to you, as ever. This is meant Sub editor: Jill Craven to help.” PiXL members were told their applications Senior reporter: Sophie Scott could be “fast tracked” if they mentioned the Senior reporter: Ann McGauran membership organisation when contacting BCS, the chartered institute for IT which Senior reporter: John Dickens provides the qualification. years in office. He described it as Senior reporter: Freddie Whittaker One school leader who received the email “schools using students as a means told Schools Week that it went against the of gathering points so the school can Reporter: Billy Camden spirit of messages from the government over look better than it is”. Photographer: Ellis O’Brien “dumbing down and gaming”. But Sir John said that there was “a “The impression is ‘pay your money and real crisis” in schools. “The interest Cartoonist: Stan Dupp do these token things and we’ll make sure of kids and schools are set at odds Financials: Helen Neilly all your pupils get an extra grade C’. I’m against each other by the system. I disgusted.” don’t sit in judgment of schools that Victoria Boyle A representative from another exam board live in fear of their jobs.” choice and raising standards.” Sales manager: Hannah Smith added: “They are essentially saying here is He met with BCS officials last week to BCS said there was no special deal or a quick way of getting another qualification discuss the qualification. After speaking to partnership with PiXL, but that it had Sales administrator: Jasmin Fergus-Aghamiri and performance points without doing the his board, the qualification was featured in passed on marketing material and its pricing Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell teaching.” a PiXL conference last week and the email structure, which was not available publicly. Responding to the criticism, PiXL chief subsequently sent to members. BCS refused to say how much they charge Contributors: Paula Lavis Sir John Rowling – a former headteacher of He told Schools Week that his email was for the ECDL qualification because they offer Andrew Hammond 19 years – said: “This is not a con trick here. passing on the facts from BCS to PiXL’s tailored packages to each school. Pupils have to pass an external exam.” members. The BCS website describes the Stephen Morales He said that the qualification helped In a statement, BCS said it had initiated qualification as evidence of the digital Harry Fletcher Wood schools safeguard against variations in contact with PiXL. literacy skills of learners. It includes four Colin Grimes marking and grade boundaries, and ensured “[We] invited them to meet to see how we units – word processing, spreadsheets, David Lewin pupils secured a sixth-form place. could work together in the future to help presentation and application – and offers Former education secretary Michael Gove support school leaders with their young “performance points” from 58 for a led a clampdown on “gaming” during his people, giving them the opportunity of more distinction to 40 for a pass. Managing director: Shane Mann And tweet us your thoughts @schoolsweek or Skirts are just not on, says school with the hashtag #schoolsweek SOPHIE SCOTT making the change, including The “Government guidance recommends subscribe @SOPH_E_SCOTT Brunts Academy in Nottinghamshire and that [governors] should consider cost, For an annual subscription to Schools Week for Greenwood Academy in Birmingham. practicality and the views of parents and just £50 visit www.schoolsweek.co.uk and click A school in east Yorkshire will join at least Ms Pashley said in a statement to Schools pupils when making significant changes, on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. 63 others in being “trousers-only” for girls Week that 25 parents had contacted the and if there are complaints, they’re expected www.schoolsweek.co.uk after male teachers allegedly said they school since sending out letters about the to work with parents to find a solution.” or call 020 8123 4778 to subscribe were uncomfortable with female pupils’ uniform change. She also said legal concerns about short skirts. She said the school sourced the discrimination might not stand up to ADVERTISE WITH US Bridlington School will remove skirts embroidery company in response to scrutiny. “The guidance also says that a from its uniform in September 2015, despite their concerns and reaffirmed that “no requirement in a uniform policy that puts If you are interested in placing a product or job advert in a future edition please click on a 1,100-strong online petition against the parents will incur additional costs one group at a disadvantage might count the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page on change. meeting the new requirements of the new as indirect discrimination if it’s applied schoolsweek.co.uk or contact: Headteacher Sarah Pashley sent a letter trouser policy”. across the school. This could still be lawful E: [email protected] to parents last week stating that she wants Fern Barber, a researcher at school if a school has a reasonable objective, and T: 020 81234 778 all pupils to wear trousers, each with the support company The Key, said that schools the requirement’s a proportionate way of Disclaimer school’s logo stitched on to the clothing. were free to set their own uniform policies. achieving that.” Schools Week is owned and published by Lsect Ltd. The views To address concerns about additional expressed within the publication are those of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of Schools Week, Lsect costs, the school has sourced an Ltd or any of its employees. While we try to ensure that the embroiderer who will put the emblem on to information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of our material. trousers bought from non-school uniform The design of the printed newspaper and of the website is copyright of Lsect Ltd and material from the newspaper suppliers. should not be reproduced without prior permission. If you But a popular online petition arguing wish to reproduce an article from either the printed paper or the website, both the article’s author and Schools Week against the move says: “We believe that this must be referenced (to not do so, would be an infringement on copyright). uniform change is penalising the whole Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content of any external school for the misbehaviour of the few internet sites linked to. Please address any complaints to the editor. We are fully children that refuse to follow the current committed to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint which cannot be resolved by uniform rules.” the editor, write to the Press Complaints Commission, Halton Bridlington School is not unique. Website House, 22—23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD schoolskirtban.co.uk tracks schools introducing trouser-only policies and Learning & Skills Events, claims that 63 schools in England have the Consultancy and Training Ltd rule in place. 161-165 Greenwich High Road The site shows a cluster of 18 schools in London SE10 8JA Yorkshire that have imposed the ban. T: 020 8123 4778 E: [email protected] It also claims a further 11 schools have reverted back to allowing skirts since SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 30 FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 3 NEWS There ain’t no party like a SATs party SOPHIE SCOTT @SOPH_E_SCOTT We have a breakfast club in the morning to get them together to relax before the tests.