SEPT-DEC 2023 ISSUE - Flipbook - Page 12
Teachers call for tech
revolution following
results day
disappointment
In light of this year's drop in GCSE and A
Level results, Judith Wills, a Maths SME at
Kings Priory School, alongside education
software provider, Access Education, is
calling for a KS3 learning revolution.
With only 26.5 per cent of all 2023 A Level
entries earning A-A* grades, this year’s
GCSE cohort saw an average of one in five
students achieve the highest grades (9 to
7) in English literature, English language or
Mathematics.
Partially due to grading standards
returning to pre-pandemic levels, teachers,
governing bodies and industry experts
are keen to shake up current KS3 teaching
practices, and invest in building a solid
foundation for GCSE success and beyond.
Judith Wills, Maths Teacher at Kings Priory
School said:
“Around ten years ago, conversations in
the education space were dominated
by questions of whether KS3 learning
standards were failing our pupils, as Ofsted
reported that students’ progress in the
early years of secondary school was found
to be very slow, particularly in English and
Maths. In recent years however, this noise
has quietened - despite the significant
impact KS3 plays on GCSE success - with a
lack of important exams measuring
individuals progress and development,
meaning that this key stage often falls
out of the limelight.
“The importance of a strong start to a
pupil’s secondary education cannot be
overstated. Setting the right tone and
expectations, both academically and
in conduct, for pupils starting in Year 7
embeds the learning habits for the rest of
their educational careers, through school
and beyond. By building firm foundations,
schools can provide their students with all
the necessary tools for building success,
and achieving their best possible results.”
Despite many schools investing in digital
solutions to help KS4 learners both in the
classroom and with their revision, the
same cannot be said for KS3. As part of the
KS3 teaching revolution, interactive and
immersive content surpasses traditional
learning tools, such as textbooks,
improving the engagement and
attainment of pupils across Year 7, 8 and 9.
Schools must consider their options as
the next academic year approaches, with
technology available that can enable KS3
learners to develop their critical thinking,
problem solving skills and access the
curriculum in an easily digestible and
interactive way. Designed to transform the
way students engage with KS3 content in
Maths, English, History and Science, Access
Educations KS3 Curriculum from GCSEPod
aligns with the national curriculum to keep
learning on track for academic success.
Senior content product manager at Access
Education, Emma Slater, said:
“We understand the crucial role that
KS3 learning plays in shaping students’
academic journeys, and we’re dedicated
to equipping teachers and their students
with the tools they need to succeed.
Through our innovative learning platform and targeted resources, we aim to
foster a deep understanding of subjects
and enhance student’s confidence and
capabilities. Together, with teachers and
educational bodies, we are confident in
our collective ability to reverse the
downward results trend and drive
academic excellence.”
Covering 30 GCSE/ IGCSE subjects, users
of the GCSEPod learning and revision tools
are proven to achieve one grade higher,
on average, than non-users. The GCSEPod
content and assessments are accessible both in the classroom and at home,
providing learners more flexibility and
freedom when it comes to managing their
progress and revision.
To find out more about the GCSEPod’s
KS3 curriculum content visit: Key Stage 3
Curriculum: Unlocking GCSE Success for
Secondary Schools (theaccessgroup.com)