Setting & Achievement at KS3 (2018-19 Academic Year)

Summary

The requester asked for updated 2018-19 data on Key Stage 3 assessment methods, setting policies, and pupil achievement levels across Isle of Man secondary schools. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded by releasing all requested information via enclosed documents.

Key Facts

• The request was made on 2019-03-05 and responded to on 2019-04-02.
• The authority handling the request was the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.
• The outcome was that all information requested was sent to the applicant.
• The response consisted of 1 document containing 2 pages.
• The request covered assessment methodologies, setting policies, and pupil numbers/levels for Years 7, 8, and 9.

Data Disclosed

• 752465
• 2019-03-05
• 2019-04-02
• 2018-19
• 2 pages
• 1 document
• IM102335I
• 20.09.17
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Original Request

Further to the DESC's helpful and detailed response (20.09.17) to FOI Request Reference No. IM102335I regarding setting and achievement at Key Stage 3, I request the same information updated to reflect the position for the current academic year (2018-19). Where there has been no change to the methodology of assessment and setting policy from that previously reported a simple no change indication will suffice. Accordingly, can you please advise: i.) Within each Island secondary school, how is the level of pupil achievement assessed in each of the KS3 years (e.g. by reference to traditional National Curriculum levels ' 6c, 7b etc, by a 'locally derived' level 6+, 6, by reference to GCSE/IGCSE grade equivalents etc and so on)? ii.) For each Island secondary school, what is the policy on setting pupils in relation to their academic ability in Years 7, 8 and 9 and for each school which academic subjects are taught in sets comprised of pupils with a defined range of ability and which subjects are taught in random mixed ability groups within these years? iii.) For each Island secondary school and for each subject where the pupils are set according to ability, how many pupils are there within each set and what are the upper and lower levels of achievement for each set across each of the KS3 years (e.g. Nonsuch School Year 8 Maths Set 1 ' 25 pupils ' with levels of achievement between 8b and 7b; Year 8 Maths Set 2 ' 27 pupils ' with levels of achievement between 7b and 6b etc)?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 752465 2 April 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 5 March 2019 and which states:

"Further to the DESC's helpful and detailed response (20.09.17) to FOI Request Reference No. IM102335I regarding setting and achievement at Key Stage 3, I request the same information updated to reflect the position for the current academic year (2018-19). Where there has been no change to the methodology of assessment and setting policy from that previously reported a simple no change indication will suffice. Accordingly, can you please advise: i.) Within each Island secondary school, how is the level of pupil achievement assessed in each of the KS3 years (e.g. by reference to traditional National Curriculum levels ' 6c, 7b etc., by a 'locally derived' level 6+, 6, by reference to GCSE/IGCSE grade equivalents etc. and so on)? ii.) For each Island secondary school, what is the policy on setting pupils in relation to their academic ability in Years 7, 8 and 9 and for each school which academic subjects are taught in sets comprised of pupils with a defined range of ability and which subjects are taught in random mixed ability groups within these years? iii.) For each Island secondary school and for each subject where the pupils are set according to ability, how many pupils are there within each set and what are the upper and lower levels of achievement for each set across each of the KS3 years (e.g. Nonsuch School Year 8 Maths Set 1 ' 25 pupils ' with levels of achievement between 8b and 7b; Year 8 Maths Set 2 ' 27 pupils ' with levels of achievement between 7b and 6b etc.)?"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have enclosed copies of the information that is being released to you.

Please quote the reference number 752465 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Coordinator