The Exam House — April 28, 2020

11 plus & 13 plus exams cancelled Sally Hobbs

For the next exam blog post we interviewed Sally Hobbs. Previously a headmistress and now an education consultant.

Sally helps with school consultancy for pupils and parents. Helping them choose the right school. Sally focusses on private schools that use the 11 plus and the common entrance exam for their admissions. Thus having a birds eye view on the effect that the exam cancellation of 2020 will have on the admissions of private schools for the September 2020 start. Below is a paraphrase of our discussion.

Sally goes to say she has confidence in the process In spite of the disruption the spread of exam results will be no different this year. The system has always been designed that some will fall between the cracks. Sally has huge confidence in the integrity of the staff which is accurate and fair with as much evidence as possible.

The power of standardisation

Teachers at 11 plus and 13 plus exam stage go to a huge lengths to make sure there are enough marks to provide some level of standardised testing. E.g. If a child didn't perform on the day, the heads would be able to prove in the context of recent historical data that this was a mistake.

Myths on frequency of testing in school

Schools are often criticised for over exam testing in term. However this has come to pass as now parents are actually very happy they can fall back on mocks and standardisation at 11 plus and common entrance. One of the key points of the 11 plus and 13 plus exams is that there is no pleasure to get the wrong child in the wrong school and these exams should prevent this as far as possible from happening.

It is in the interest of schools and the act of exams of getting the child into the right place. Often parents will focus on the exams rather than the end result which is the correct school for the child. It is often a myth that schools over exam pupils as they develop through the years. Actually pupils invariably do not mind tests and exams through their time at school. The level of which is often in the child's comfort zone. The extra benefit for a exam regime through their time is that pupils are well schooled in the act of taking exams and tests. As they move onto secondary and universities this has put them in good stead.

League table disruption

The cancelling of exams has also shown how league tables and the rules of the league tables causes distortion. Sally goes on to explain that schools are disincentivising pupils to sit exams early as they are not included in the data that the league uses to generate their tables. However, this is set to change.

Sally believes that we want to see society much forward to seeing bigger data sets and more than just written exams . Including verbal interviews similar to the old fashioned viva. Heads of school, as Sally once was, will often enjoy it when we get a chance to meet pupils. It is such a good way of finding out if the child will thrive in that school environment.

Time well spent using interviews

We should use this time of exams being cancelled to focus on how else we can improve the informed choice of admissions officers in secondary schools and universities. Further, if a pupil has an interview at a school and gets rejected it is easily accepted. Coupled with exams It is unlikely the pupil was unable to show their best. While the headmaster can take into account the human element.

The Virus lock down has increased the divide in access to education

Schools and parents that are able to keep up with lock down changes would have learnt some important lessons and thrive in the post lock down world. However, there will be a great deal of schools and pupils that will not keep up. We must keep the pressure on the divide within schooling and continue the effort of making sure all pupils have access to online learning at home.

For more info and contact details for Sally do link here.