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JAMES N. MCMANUSREGIMENTAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCOCLASS OF 2016, SIERRA COMPANYWWW.THEOXFORDOBSERVER.COM
SCHOOLS VISITEDSt. Nicholas PrimaryMarston, Oxford
Rowledge PrimaryRowledge, Farnham
The Priory SchoolDorking, Surrey
St. John’s SchoolLeatherhead, Surrey
Pentland PrimaryBillingham, Durham
Moorside JuniorRipon, North Yorkshire
ST. NICHOLAS PRIMARYMarston, Oxford - www.stnicholasprimaryschool.org.uk
CharacteristicsBehavior scales with different colored smiley faces• Students all start at yellow, move up or down to
green or red• Works VERY well
Communications and Interactions Resource Base• Help kids with social skills• Self-contained• Any age at the school• Autism Spectrum Disorder,
AD/HD, etc.
ROWLEDGE PRIMARYRowledge, Farnham - www.rowledgeschool.com/hants/primary/rowledge
Characteristics“Young governors”• School government (every year represented)
Computer skills in 1st Grade• Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, making rollercoasters
Overnight trips to different locations each year• 2nd Grade – 1 night in school• 5th Grade – De-stress after standardized tests
Smile Makers• Student volunteers who help fellow
students in need of a smile
THE PRIORY SCHOOLCharacteristicsGolden Tickets for students• Good behaviour, participation, etc.• One named pulled at end of week, receive prize• Students give Silver tickets to favourite teachers
Christian/Family ethos• Strong school community• Great staff dynamic• Church of England school
Dorking, Surrey - www.priorycofe.com
ST. JOHN’S SCHOOLCharacteristicsHouse System• 9 houses, some boarding• Each has a “housemaster” (well-being and
academics)
Combined Cadet Force (JROTC Equivalent)• Students required to participate (pick a branch)• Participate in outdoor leadership activities and
classroom lessons
Leatherhead, Surrey - www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk
Very large sports program• Several teams per sport per age• Mandatory for students
PENTLAND PRIMARYCharacteristicsProgress wheel for self-assessment• Three sections (beginning, middle, end of
lesson)• 1 = can teach someone, 5 = completely lost
Nurture bases• For most troubled kids• Small groups, life skills and lessons
Classes choose countries to learn aboutand represent for the semester
Billingham, Durham - www.sbcschools.org.uk/pentland
MOORSIDE JUNIORCharacteristicsSATs preparation• Take prep tests, go over the answers in class
Red and yellow card system for behavior• Soccer cutouts with personal goals and
jerseys
Ripon, North Yorkshire - www.moorside-jun.n-yorks.sch.uk
Daily schedule• Literacy and numeracy
in the morning• Science and history in
the afternoon
Students have jobs
UK KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Years vs. Grades
School Houses
Uniforms Treatment of Teachers
Terrible Testing
“Swing Students”
YEARS VS. GRADESAge UK Year US Grade
5 1 K6 2 17 3 28 4 39 5 4
10 6 511 7 612 8 713 9 814 10 915 11 1016 12 1117 13 12
Form
Lower 4th
Upper 4th
Lower 5th
Upper 5th
Lower 6th
Upper 6th
Key Stage
1
2
3
4
5
YEARS VS. GRADESServe no purpose other then to utterly confuse any Americans trying to
understand their system.
Used to be completely different, but has changed from the 1980s-present
Ages
• Five to eighteen (2015)
Schools
• Infant• Primary• Junior• Senior• Secondary
Forms
• First-fifth• Can have
sixth separate
Key Stages
• One through five
* *
* = Sometimes...
YEARS VS. GRADES
SCHOOL HOUSESPoint system (asking good questions, participation, etc.)
with field day or two during the year (compete for cup)Mostly done using colors, can be famous alumniCould be actual houses/dorms (boarding schools)
St. John’s School (Independent)• Montgomery/”Monty”
(Burgundy and blue)• WestB (Yellow and black)• EastB (Green and black)• North (Red and black)• SouthB (Purple and black)• Haslewood (Black and blue)• Surrey (Red and white)• Churchill (Blue and white)• Gloucester (Blue and pink)
Moorside School (State)• Ruby (Red)• Emerald (Green)• Diamond (Yellow)• Sapphire (Blue)
Pentland School (State)• Red• Green• Yellow• Blue
B = Boarding
SCHOOL HOUSESSound familiar?
RED
YELLOW BLUE
GREEN
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/197/f/a/hogwarts_flag_by_kooro_sama-d3x9qa1.png
SCHOOL HOUSESFour Houses• Red• Yellow• Blue• Green
Named after founders/famous alumni....• Godric Gryffindor• Helga Hufflepuff• Rowena Ravenclaw• Salazar Slytherin
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100911003016/harrypotter/images/2/2e/House_Points.jpghttp://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/037/b/7/hogwarts_crest_wallpaper_by_vaultofdaedalus-d75c692.png
Point system• Answering questions
correctly, outstanding acts• Lose points for bad
behavior
UNIFORMSNot robes (unless you’re at Oxbridge)Could be a strict dress codeMost are physical uniforms students must buy
From Pentland Primary School website:
Reception to Year 4:•Red sweatshirt•White or red polo shirt•Grey / black trousers or skirt
Years 5 and 6:•Blue sweatshirt•White or red polo shirt•Grey / black trousers or skirt
PE kit:•White t-shirt•Black shorts•Plimsolls
Swimming kit:•Boys: Swimming trunks or shorts. Bermuda style shorts are not allowed.•Girls: One piece swimming costume
http://www.shepherdandwoodward.co.uk/large-product-images/commoners-large.jpghttp://www.sbcschools.org.uk/pentland/index.php?id=4509&time=1357084800
UNIFORMSSpoke to a sociology class of “high school seniors” (6th formers) who were allowed to wear regular clothes to school as a privilege
Pros• Easy• Structure can be good• Consistency• “Evens the playing field”
Cons• Students try to rebel in any way
(short ties, untucked shirts, unbuttoned top button)
• Not treated as individuals• Uncomfortable, cold• Expensive
“It’s a constant battle to get them to wear it properly” - Headteacher
Girls liked the ease and structure, not the cost or discomfort
Boys were concerned more about the lack of individuality
UNIFORMSI polled the class: school uniforms or normal clothes. What do you think they said?
Normal Clothes
Uniforms
UNIFORMS
http://www.sbcschools.org.uk/pentland/index.php?id=4509&time=1357084800 http://www.rowledgeschool.com/
UNIFORMSJoe Harry Sam Martha Verity
TREATMENT OF TEACHERSPositive:Teachers are all called “Sir” or “Miss”
Negative:A LOT of “teaching to the test”“Tracking” and monitoring students
Neutral:Two main unions• National Union of Teachers (NUT)• Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL)NUT was striking one day, manyTeachers just ignored it• Did shut down some schools
TERRIBLE TESTINGAGE 7 – National Curriculum assessments• Year 2/Grade 1 = End of Key Stage 1
AGE 11 – National Curriculum assessments• Year 6/Grade 5 = End of Key Stage 2• Scores determine “high school” you can attend
AGE 16 – General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs)
• End of Year 11/Grade 10 (year before 6th form)• Determines what courses you take in 6th form• Subject-specific tests• Number of students with five A* to C grades determines funding
AGE 18 – Advanced Level (A-Levels)• Determines college options (acceptance often conditional)• Determines career options
SATs
SATs
------
GC
SE---
----
A-L
evel
TERRIBLE TESTINGGCSEs used to be called “Ordinary Levels” (O-levels)
Harry Potter takes “Ordinary Wizarding Level exams” (OWLS)Subject specific
Determines next classes
Taken at age 16
Basic level of proficiency in subject
GCSEs Yes Yes Yes Yes
OWLs Yes Yes Yes Yes
A-Levels vs. NEWTs (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests)Subject specific
Shows expert-level proficiency
Taken at end of school career
Nastily Exhausting
A-Levels Yes Yes Yes Yes
NEWTs Yes Yes Yes Yes
Alice will most likely get• B in Geography• D in Maths• F in English
• C in History• D in Physics
SWING STUDENTSStems from the problem with funding schemes• Based on number of students with 5 A* to C grades in GCSEs
Failing students are not treated equally. Who gets more focus?
Sam will most likely get• A in Geography• C in Maths• B in English
• A in History• D in Physics
4 grades from A* to C, 1 grade below a C
2 grades from A* to C, 3 Grades below a C
CONCLUSION
Years vs. Grades
School Houses
Uniforms Treatment of Teachers
Terrible Testing
“Swing Students”
AND.....
HARRY POTTER IS REAL
JAMES N. MCMANUSREGIMENTAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCOCLASS OF 2016, SIERRA COMPANYWWW.THEOXFORDOBSERVER.COM
