SATsguide.co.uk Home Contact Us Site Map
Music on/off Music On/Off
Bookmark with:
Bookmark with: del.icio.us digg reddit facebook Stumbleupon
Just ask... SATsguide.co.uk
Just ask... SATsguide.co.uk
Our tel: +44 (0) 208 920 0444. Secure Online Payments!
Young pupils studying for SAT

News

Headline: Schools 'must stop talent drain'
Description: Schools need to nurture the most able, Professor Jesson said The state school system is not always fulfilling the potential of the brightest children, according to a leading education academic.

Professor David Jesson said talent "was going to waste" because schools were not capitalising on their potential.

He told a conference of specialist schools that they needed to grasp an opportunity to develop that talent.

Professor Jesson said it was a myth that independent schools educated more "brighter" pupils than state schools.

Ability

State schools educate around 30,000 of the top 5% of able pupils compared with 7,500 in the independent sector, said Professor Jesson, who is based at Sheffield University.

But he referred to research by the Sutton Trust, which suggests that social background was still a factor in the attainment of the most able.

Its chairman Sir Peter Lampl said there was evidence of an "educational apartheid" between state and private schools.

He said places in private schools should be based on academic ability rather than ability to pay - but the government rejected this.

Able children in schools with a large proportion of similar students were more likely to do well at GCSE level, the research suggests. But these schools tend to be situated in more affluent areas.

Where there are 40 or more children identified as very able, less than 5% of all pupils are entitled to free school meals, the research suggests.

At the age of 11, 7% of pupils attend independent schools. At age 16, 25% of those gaining GCSEs at grades A* or A are privately educated. Just over one third of students gaining three A grades at A-level are from independent schools, as are 44% of Oxbridge entrants.

Professor Jesson, who said his comments were made on research which is still work in progress, said a "talent drain" existed where pupils who displayed good results in their Key Stage 2 tests aged 11 did not go on to achieve the GCSE and A-level results of which they were capable.

Professor Jesson did not say if he believed teaching methods or smaller class sizes in independent schools might contribute to better results. He said the final research paper may draw more conclusions.

"Rather I wanted to show the opportunity that state schools have and what they should be moving towards."

Goals

Professor Jesson said it was "vital" that all schools should have access to the raw scores from the tests taken by 11 year olds leaving primary school so that teachers could set clear goals for their future achievement.

"If you don't know where the children are starting from you cannot set those goals," he said.

"We have the technology so we should get on and do it."

He added: "Many state schools are doing very well in this area. But all are well able to capitalise."

"I want to motivate schools to do something about this."

Ways in which schools could nurture the brightest pupils included projects run by the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, and partnerships with independent schools, he said.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said bright state school pupils were doing far better since 1997.

"For example, the number of A-level candidates in state education achieving three As has almost doubled," he said.

"It is not surprising that independent schools, who on the whole have the most privileged pupils, do well - it would be remarkable if they didn't."


Date: 27.11.2005
Email a colleague
back


http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk
Tips of the day
"Get your child to feel a sense of achievement for working hard, for making progress, for being an active member of a team, or purely for enjoying something." says Elizabeth Hartley Brewer. And encourage her to benchmark herself against her own past perfo...
Students Area Login
Login:
Password:
 

Registration
Forgot your password?
Subscribe
Register for our Newsletter...


HTML Text

Time left until the start of 2011 SATs tests...
left to 11/05/2010
Links
Brain Foods - Omega Nutrition Flax seed
Do Your Children Loathe the Taste and After Taste of Fish Oil Supplements? There is a delicious alternative – Flax Seed Oil with its subtle distinctive slightly nutty taste – take it by the spoonful, drizzle over salads or take Veg Capsules. Brain Foods - Omega Nutrition Flax seed
zoom
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/
Eye Zone Massager
RELAXOLOGY Electric Eyezone Massager combines three proven therapies in one quick and easy to use gadget to relieve exam stress and tension around the eyes and temples in minutes. Eye Zone Massager
zoom
http://www.eyezonemassager.co.uk/
Which Charity? Give from your heart.
So... what do we do? We will help you make the choice of who can smile tomorrow and who has to wait We endeavour to provide you with a service that directs you to charities completely relevant to what you want to give and who you want to give it to. Please feel free to have a look around and use the features of this site. Please be aware that we are under construction so all features will be available shortly. Which Charity? Give from your heart.
zoom
http://www.whichcharity.org/
Terrasil Multi-Purpose Ointment
AIDANCE TERRASIL MAX. THREE TIMES THE STRENGTH OF TERRASIL ORIGINAL TO PROVIDE EVEN FASTER RELIEF FROM A VARIETY OF CHALLENGING SKIN PROBLEMS. 14g Jar
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=terrasil
Happy feet
MY HAPPYFEET LADIES RAINBOW TOE ALIGNMENT SOCKS WITH ELASTANE. Gently help separate stretch and realign your toes. Turn aching feet into happy feet.
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=happy+feet
Bio Bulb
Biobulb Full Spectrum Light Bulb 25w Bayonet - 100w Equivalent (H: 140mm). The closest you can get to natural daylight
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=bulb
Oxyfit - Portable Oxygen Canisters
Compact Pocket Size Canisters of Oxygen. With patented inhaler. Releases oxygen one breath at a time. Oxyfit - Portable Oxygen Canisters
zoom
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=oxyfit
Powerlung - How good is your breathing?
Powerlung Deep Breathing Exercise Lung Exerciser. It could be that the way that you breathe is stealing your energy, hampering your performance or productivity, stifling your self expression or even shortening your life! Powerlung - How good is your breathing?
zoom
http://www.power-lung.co.uk
RSS Feeds
Validation
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!