Exam results

We test and examine our kids such a lot – and lots clearly and undoubtedly work really hard and do perform really well.

There is the issue of apparent grade inflation and the ever-rising pass rate. Some people also say that exams are getting easier.

The BBC here ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6972117.stm ) publish some comments about the recent exam results. Passing over why they might choose to start with a long diatribe against public schools, the next comment got me thinking.

With all the new technology, the internet in particular, things are a lot easier.
Sinead, Leicestershire

Does this mean life in general, or doing the research work for the exams?

It does bother me that the pass rate for certain GCSEs is in excess of 99% – what is the point of having an exam if it is virtually impossible to fail?

The analysis by examiners of certain subjects is fascinating. One on Science is here ( http://www.edexcel.org.uk/VirtualContent/94685/2101_GCSE_Science_rep_20070823.pdf )  which contains the curious fact that at the higher tier of one element of GCSE Science, candidates were having trouble with maths :

 Higher tier : Higher tier candidates had difficulties with mathematical calculations with 26% of candidates able to multiply 600 by 12.

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Windsor Fire Station

Lots of press and media interest in our action plan agenda item at Cabinet today. Have already done a couple of interviews on the matter. ITV plan to do an interview as well but they keep changing the time.

Our action plan essentially looks at ways we can work to retain the 24 hour service at Windsor Fire Station now the Fire Authority approved the IRMP (which presumes a downgrade of the local service to remove night time cover).

It looks like the Datchet by-election will be held soon.

Chinese visit

About thirty civil service visitors from China came to the Town Hall yesterday and were treated to an explanation of our performance management and HR functions. I said about fifty words of welcome before the Mayor took over , and I got a short enthusiastic round of applause! Must try that with the Cabinet.

Also had lunch with my fellow ward councillors in Bray, and of course we were recognised by loads of people. One inevitably said “Council Tax providing a nice lunch I see” (of course we were paying ourselves)

Holidays

It’s the height of the holiday season and that means that there are fewer emails, fewer meetings and fewer issues.

On the other hand, the real world carries on and it also means less time to find Council budget savings, the prospect of a by-election in Datchet (following the sad death of our colleague Liz Hawkes) and everyone promising things will happen “in September”.

 Meanwhile I can get on with some long-put-off work!

Hectic week

The last week has been a bit of a busy one. We lost the Fire Authority vote last week despite some vociferous lobbying. I think that there are people who are tired of the protests from Windsor and just wanted to move things along – we’re looking at all options going forward.

Car park income is down and this has created a hole in the budget. The causes are varied but basically consist of over-optimistic budgeting, people parking on the yellow lines, a general drift in actual numbers and the combination of these means the Council’s budget is running a bit short.

Good news – we have passed the Forces Housing change, we have authorised the free Windsor Parking, we have strengthened planning enforcement – all 3 manifesto commitments.