New person in our meeting last week. She is here to improve the statistics of our department. The first thing she says is that she is not convinced the types of learners we have in ESOL could not create such bad (well not really) statistics. In fact her exact words were when it was highlighted that our students are vulnerable people. you know refugees, asylum seekers and people who could be deported any minute.
She says " that doesnt wash with me!" Well there you go...so much for empathy for the types of students that we have in our department. I feel that in fact this type of comment is already laden with a gift of disunderstanding.
I suggested that she look at MIS statistics, as they blatantly do not add up. Not from my experience anyhow. How can my student PD, who has had 100% attendance since the start of the term, be refused EMA payments because he has not attended full time. The whole device of creating statistics which are untrue ends up putting pressure on us teachers.
Well the result of this meeting is a change of exam board. City and Guilds... referred to as the dumb cousin of the UCLES board in ELT circles. It means that more students will pass (theoretically) and that the statistics will look better. Job done!!!! There the students will have learnt more...... Nonsense... how can sitting an easier exam board (reference NATECLA conference Sarah Waters) mean that we are doing a better job?
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