It is hugely heartening to hear fresh thinking about assessment from the ground up. You propose averaging grades across a number of secondary years, proofing against black swan events like covid. One objection might be that by loading all the stakes at the end of secondary school students get to enjoy most schooling consequence free. There might be an argument about maturation, that only middle teens can grasp that their efforts have long term consequences. Would we really want adult opportunities to be influenced by choices we made when thirteen! I would not!. Also if grades mattered from age 11 parents and schools would game the system and put pressure on early teens taking away their last innocent years. It would also be a system that favoured those that matured early, when we are really interested in how people end up, not how smoothly and evenly they transition.
I agree with everything you are saying, John. The maturation point is really interesting and something I hadn't considered - possibly leading to stronger results for girls.
I do think some parents are already in favour of coaching because they rightly see every year of schooling important.
It is hugely heartening to hear fresh thinking about assessment from the ground up. You propose averaging grades across a number of secondary years, proofing against black swan events like covid. One objection might be that by loading all the stakes at the end of secondary school students get to enjoy most schooling consequence free. There might be an argument about maturation, that only middle teens can grasp that their efforts have long term consequences. Would we really want adult opportunities to be influenced by choices we made when thirteen! I would not!. Also if grades mattered from age 11 parents and schools would game the system and put pressure on early teens taking away their last innocent years. It would also be a system that favoured those that matured early, when we are really interested in how people end up, not how smoothly and evenly they transition.
I agree with everything you are saying, John. The maturation point is really interesting and something I hadn't considered - possibly leading to stronger results for girls.
I do think some parents are already in favour of coaching because they rightly see every year of schooling important.
Thanks for adding your thoughts!