Exams in the headlines
We have had mocks and semester exams throughout high school starting, as we head towards reports and the end of term. The corridors are full of 'Quiet Please' signs and ranked desks. At the same time we sent out a quick anonymous check in on well-being, using a 'flourishing scale'. Both of these try to measure things we think matter - we care deeply about our learners flourishing, and we care deeply that they are learning important knowledge, skills and transferable understandings in their academic work.
In the same week, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the OECD, published the most significant global indicator of how learning is going, the PISA report, following its own tests. OECD Pisa Report for 2022, released December 2023
What are we learning globally? The most obvious thing we can see is the effect of COVID, as you can read here: Guardian Article on UK PISA results It is clear that national systems across the globe have been struggling to cope, and valuable progress made before COVID has been lost in many systems.
Meanwhile, at ISA, we have been working hard over the years since COVID to provide the caring, supportive and intentional learning environment our learners need, as they bounce back. The national system results emphasise to us just how very important this work is. Our flourishing scale check in showed we are making good progress with support, and we look forward to giving feedback to learners shortly in reports and exam feedback so they can continue to perform academically.
Of course, most of the things that matter, are not the things that are tested in a sit down exam, and as the term begins to work to a close, we hope that all the community feel these - the sense of community, of exceptional care, of relationships strengthened over the term, and a sense of optimism and joy in the future ahead of us. Have a great last week before the final thistle post of the term.
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