I have been so impressed with the schools which have placed the archaic ranking of ABCDE( as if we are in the dark ages!!) as a secondary aspect of what a meaningful report is actually meant to be about.
To report, to share, to consider and reflect upon a child's learning, life, growth and experiences within and across a whole year is a huge task. To witness schools now commenting more upon a child's attempts, successes and interests, their social and emotional skills and the learning that has taken place across the year is realistic, authentic and honest.
The continued emphasis upon ranking students and schools based on test results and other data collecting tools continues to patronise parents and mislead parents into thinking that learning can be neatly categorised into narrow measurement terms.
I keep hearing government spokespeople claim that parents want to know about their children's learning. Who would disagree!!! It's just that to pretend that a ranking can really show and share with a parent all the aspects and progress of a child is indeed patronising and simplifying the whole issues related to children, school, teaching and learning.
To all those schools who are placing photos of children on the front page, examples of their interests and work and a detailed description of the children's development, a very big congratulations!!
I would welcome some responses to this blog just so I know I’m not the only person who thinks this way!!!!