I have received the information below and thought you might find it useful when considering your position regarding this years science SATs. My initial responses from Kent schools indicate that the marking is mostly OK and that the mark scheme has been quite tightly applied. We have a range of "ups and downs" reported so far. No pattern determined yet, I will e-mail out to schools if I find one!
Here is the information from "above"
"We are getting a number of reports from you (consultants) that you are finding some anomalies in schools KS3 science results where there are large drops or increases in results. If schools (and you) are still in session and you have the time, it would be good to look at the quality of marking against the marking scheme. Where this is in doubt due to the quality of marking, schools should give appeals serious consideration in the best interests of children. Obviously there are cost implications for schools on this so it is a school’s choice whether they do this or not.
We do have evidence that in some schools have carried out an analysis of the marking and have sent whole cohorts of papers for appeal. "
This years STs are further evidence of the increasing importance of Sc. 1 (How Science Works) and we envisage further increases as the new PoS for KS3 becomes examinable.
This zip file contains exemplification of the new PoS for KS3. This will be added to the Framework web site over the summer. This is NOT statutory content, more a selection of ideas you might like to include. Some files are word documents which open properly. Those beginning ._ are code files and open to reveal rubbish! I wanted to get these out quickly so I haven't edited this.
Enjoy!!
I have received some information about resources for astronomy teaching from David Mannion (Maidstone GS). He writes:-
These two sheets might be of interest to Heads of Science in Kent schools who want to teach part of the Science national curriculum - the astronomy bits! We have in the RAS www.ras.org.uk come up with about 84 websites and four RAS web resources for teaching
astronomy Ks2 Ks 3 Ks 4 and Ks 5.
There are 2 files zipped in the attachment. Rules for opening as before. (Click on title of the page, attachments then show in the new page that opens)