Research and Study Abroad Presentation

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