February 2017

The know zone

  • Modular to linear
    Curriculum and Assessment Specialist Suzanne O’Farrell highlights 12 key points schools could grasp as they move from modular to linear assessment in the classroom. More
  • Paws for thought
    During his formative teaching years, Gareth Burton jotted down memorable moments and exchanges that continue to have a bearing on his teaching career. More
  • Speed-date for inspections?
    Under the present Ofsted inspection system, schools that are rated ‘good’ only have to undergo a shorter day-long Ofsted inspection every three years. What are your views on this? What is your experience of short inspections? How well do you think they work? Here, ASCL members share their views. More
  • Free resources to promote careers
    Focus on… National Careers Week 2017 More
  • Identifying children struggling to understand the written word
    It is easy to overlook, in any battery of statistics, the different patterns that lie behind the main conclusion. More
  • Leaders’ surgery
    Hotline advice expressed here, and in calls to us, is made in good faith to our members. Schools and colleges should always take formal HR or legal advice from their indemnified provider before acting. More
  • Generating income
    At a time when school budgets are under serious pressure and with some schools already hitting a financial ‘brick wall’, Business Leadership Specialist Val Andrew looks at ways in which schools could generate income to ease the burden. More
  • Close to the edge
    Small primary schools are facing a bleak financial future unless the government intervenes, says Julie McCulloch. More
  • Retiring thoughts
    Planning for retirement is something that many of us put off until we are almost at the age of retirement. Pensions Specialist Stephen Casey says it’s important that members prepare well in advance to avoid any nasty shocks. More
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It is easy to overlook, in any battery of statistics, the different patterns that lie behind the main conclusion.

Identifying children struggling to understand the written word

When it comes to literacy, the national as well as the international conversation has focused almost exclusively on boys.

GL Assessment recently analysed data from more than 60,000 10 and 12 year-olds in England and Wales, looking at two components of literacy: sentence completion and passage comprehension.

The survey found a significant minority of girls who have problems reading. It found that 11% of 10 year-old girls, and 12% of 12 year-old girls have significant literacy problems. In a national context, this would equate to approximately 40,000 girls in each year group having difficulty with reading.

GL Assessment’s New Group Reading Test (NGRT) – a fully standardised and fully adaptive assessment – enables teachers to identify a pupil’s reading and comprehension skills quickly.

ASCL Members who purchase NGRT Digital Level A before 28 February 2017 will receive NGRT Digital Level B for free*. To take advantage of this offer, email interest@gl-assessment.co.uk quoting code NGRT17.

*Terms and conditions apply

LEADING READING