Excel Tutoring Troy - Easy Tips to Create Excel Tutoring Success

Excel Tutoring Troy - Easy Tips to Create Excel Tutoring SuccessWhile tutoring students with excel is not as simple as it used to be, there are some simple steps that can be taken to make sure that the learning experience is fruitful. These steps are easy to follow and can provide effective results.For the most part, students are taught the basics of excel in the basic level. As they become more advanced in their understanding of the program, tutors need to step in. When students are taught in the basic level, it's possible to cover areas of your students' interests. Once these areas are covered, you can take a different course and more advanced instructions.It's important that you select the right students for the tutor so that you get the best out of your investment. When you tutor students with excel, you need to be sure that you choose those students who are ready to put in the extra effort and attention that are required.As soon as you have decided on the basic level and who you want to tutor, it's time to begin the lesson plan. You need to find a few areas of emphasis that will create interest in your students.For example, if you're tutoring high school students, you may want to focus on vocabulary. For college students, it may be important to teach methods of scientific inquiry. While you are finding the areas that are appropriate for your students, make sure that you spend time reviewing the lessons to make sure that they are working well.As soon as your students start showing interest in what you're teaching, it's time to start incorporating a topic of interest in their learning. This means that you don't stop until you finish all of your lesson plans. This can lead to a learning curve that's too steep for many students.Since you want your students to learn, it's important that you give them tips on how to learn. By focusing on the same subjects or areas as your students do, you can make the lesson easier. This can be accomplished by providing students with different resources that they can use to reinforce the things that they've learned.

Whats Holding You Back

Whats Holding You Back Suzy S. Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at TakeLessons? For our student counselors,   its a life of chatting with students and teachers, and helping musicians of all levels take that first step in setting up lessons! A lot goes into the process discussing your needs and goals, and determining which teacher will fit those needs best, all to ensure you have an excellent experience. So whats holding you back? Here, TakeLessons student counselor Dylan M. offers some practical advice to overcoming your lingering reservations: Before you begin your list of excuses for not taking music lessons right now, think about this: Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson would have never made a successful career for themselves had it not been for overcoming obstacles.   Unfortunately, too many of us choose to let these obstacles overcome our own success. Doubt can be the treacherous monster holding back those of us seeking musical experiences. As a student counselor with TakeLessons, I have helped students over the hurdles preventing them from taking the first steps on their musical journey.   So ask yourself: whats holding you back? Price, time, location and skill level are among the most frequently-used reasons for not taking lessons.   If cost is your primary deterrent, we hear ya. Tough economic times may mean cutting corners somewhere, but there are ways to reduce the cost of lessons. Just remember: Mistakes can be costly, but music is priceless. If youre worried about time and location, there are numerous plans you can get set up on.   We also offer different programs that allow for flexibility, if you need it.   These programs allow you the time you need for lessons and the time you need for your everyday life.   And if studios are too far, why not have one of our instructors come to you instead?   Taking lessons at home is exciting and convenient. We also offer online music lessons as an option now! One piece of advice to take to heart: dont ever feel like youre not good enough to take lessons.   The amazing thing about music and taking lessons is that its available to any age and any skill level.   There is always room for improvement, and were here to help you progress and become a better musician! Dylan M., TakeLessons staff member and blogger Ready to sign up for lessons?   Search for a teacher near you, and get started today! Photo by loveiswritten.

ACT Classes

ACT Classes ACT test examines the academic knowledge of a high school student and the result, also called the ACT score shows the performance of the student in the test. ACT scores help students gain admission into their desired colleges and universities for college level education. ACT exam tests the students knowledge in 4 main sections and it gives them limited time to complete the questions present in each section. The sections are English, Mathematics, Reading and Science reasoning. To do well in these sections, students should practice basic concepts from every topic and to manage time, they should practice working out questions by setting up a time limit for themselves, so that they get the feel of the real exam. ACT classes are helpful for students taking ACT test, as they will be prepared on how to handle little tricky questions and will also be given small tips which can be helpful during the test. ACT also offers an optional Writing section and students whose colleges require their writing score as well, can attend this section. The writing section usually measures the writing skills of the student learnt in their high school English classes and hence can achieve good score if they can write their opinion well on a given issue or a topic. ACT classes can help a student regarding time management as well. Since for every section time is a constraint, students can learn to answer the given questions quickly and can improve their performance by answering more questions in less time period.

An Introductory Guide To German Attractions

An Introductory Guide To German Attractions Visit Germany: Must-See Attractions And Places In Germany ChaptersMust-See German Monuments And Sightseeing Spots For TouristsIs it time to visit Germany? Yes, it is! When you think of travel to Germany, you may think of German beer, German wine, German food like its pretzels, perhaps its romantic castles or the vibrant beer festival Oktoberfest in Munich. Maybe you will remember its dark past under the Nazi regime or the separation of the capital city Berlin into east and west by the Berlin Wall. But Germany today is a very different place from the past. It’s has developed into an unmissable culturally rich country with a strong heritage that is unique in Central Europe.Every year, millions of tourists make travel plans and take a trip to Germany. This number has risen since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1998, and the country has opened up to mass tourism. Now we all have the chance to discover Germany’s beauty and historical sites. From taking cruises on the Rhine, trekking through the black forest, to going back in time by visiting famous castles and places or maybe to be shocked by the past of the destructive Nazi period and concentration camps.Germany is full of monuments and places that are essential to visit if you want to learn about German culture and get a feel for its rich heritage. No matter where you visit in Germany this is an amazing country with lots of surprises that can only be uncovered by visiting. This is not a Germany Travel guide but collections of useful travel tips for the tourist who wants an introduction to German attractions. While the bustling Berlin city is great, these tips will hopefully encourage you to venture out of just the cities in Germany to find some new German Scenery. With the aim of helping you to make the most of your trip to Germany.Germany welcomes tourists from all over the world. Photo Source: UnsplashGerman is overflowing with opportunity for you to discover on your trip to Germany. Have fun visiting Germany. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Dis cover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors

Getting Started with Boxing

Getting Started with Boxing The Quick Guide to Combat Sports ChaptersWhat Type of Boxing Should You Start With?Which Combat Sport Should You Learn for Self-defence?The Best Type of Boxing for RelaxingThe Best Types of Boxing for Weight Loss“The important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well.” - Pierre de CoubertinFamous for being one of the most complete sports, boxing involves athleticism, uses almost every muscle in the body, and requires agility, endurance, and core strength. Since the Olympic Games in 2012, the number of boxing clubs has increased.There was a 10.2% rise in sports clubs across the UK and boxing and wrestling have been the driving factor behind them.  While boxing had the image of being a violent sport for men, its image is changing.So what type of boxing should you do?Here’s our advice for choosing the right discipline. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all o ur tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Type of Boxing Should You Start With?Before you join a boxing club, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself. The most important one is which type of boxing you should do. There are different types of boxing and each has its advantages and disadvantages. (Source: tacofleur)While the main type of boxing like in the Olympic Games, there are also other types of boxing.  There are other disciplines relating to boxing including savate, Thai boxing, and kickboxing.  These European, American, and Asian combat sports have also been adapted for fitness purposes with cardio boxing, fitness boxing, aerobic boxing, etc.You should try a few of the different disciplines before you sign up for a whole year as this will help you pick the right one.You should also think about your personal goals.Would you like to tone your body, lose weight, build your self-confidence, improve your health, or go pro? How hard do you plan on working out? Would you like to learn self-defence, get rid of stress, or hone your reflexes?Here’s our advice for starting with boxing.  As we mentioned earlier, there are 4 main types of boxing:BoxingSavateKick-boxingThai boxing or Muay ThaiTradi tional boxing was inspired by Greek boxing and spread throughout English towns in the 19th century.  This boxing uses only punches and focuses on strength, speed, and defence. A skipping rope is one of the most common tools for warming up before boxing.Savate, or French boxing, began in the 20th century and uses both kicking and punching.  It focuses on flexibility, tactics, precision, endurance, and agility.Kick-boxing was created in the 1990s and allows kicking, punching, and kneeing. You can strike your opponent with your shins or feet as high as their head.  This type of boxing focuses on flexibility, strength, agility, and technique.Known for being particularly violent, Thai boxing also allows elbowing. In short, almost any blow is allowed.  Choose this type of boxing if you like combat shorts but expect to spend time wringing out your clothes after each session.  When it comes to Thai boxing warm-ups, get ready for burpees, squats, push-ups, and a lot of ab workouts.Which Comb at Sport Should You Learn for Self-defence?Would you like to learn some self-defence?A lot of women choose to learn combat sports or martial arts such as Taekwondo, Krav Maga, mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and boxing to defend themselves.It’s a falsehood that boxing clubs teach you just how to scrap...  Nevertheless, the techniques taught can be used to help you out in one. Learning to box isn't about going out and picking fights, but the techniques can help get you out of dangerous situations. (Source: Claudio_Scott)So which type of boxing is best for defending yourself?Any of them can be useful!Boxing is a high-intensity physical activity that’ll improve your endurance, strength, determination, and discipline.  You’ll also hone your reflexes, think strategically, and tone your body.  Boxing is a way to learn how to fight using powerful and measured blows.  Similarly, the combat techniques learnt (blocking, tactics, punches, footwork, etc.) can also be used to defend yourself.  The goal is to avoid conflict rather than to get involved in it.Respect is one of the most important aspects of boxing.  To defend yourself in the street, however, you won’t be fighting to Queensbury Rules. Similarly, boxing bare-knuckled can cause injury and when you have to defend yourself, you won’t have your usual protection including a gum shield, shin guards, or a cup.When it comes to self-defence, we could also mention Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts (MMA), and Krav Maga. These are all combat sports and martial arts that include techniques for neutralising an opponent. Whether you’re a man or a woman, all types of boxing are useful for defending yourself.Here’s some key advice for boxing:Learn to box in tight spacesBe aware of your rangeStand correctlyBe fluid and flexible so that you can avoid your opponent’s attacksBreathe with each punchKeep your guard upLook your opponent in the eyeIt’s also a good idea to pick up a punching bag for your home and a skipping rope.The Best Type of Boxing for RelaxingAnother reason people box is to get rid of stress. You'll be surprised at just how relaxed you'll feel after boxing. (Source: leninscape)You can practise punching and kicking on a punching bag or with a sparring partner with pads and blow off some steam while you do.  Boxing classes with coaches and trainers are also a good way to get rid of daily stress. Stress can build up daily and regularly practising a combat sport is a good way to manage it.In addition to being a great way to stay in shape, it’s great for dealing with stress.  A 90-minute boxing session spent focusing on your punches is a great way to relax.The same is true while you’re thinking about your footwork.  You need to think about the present. There’s no time to think about other concerns.So which type of boxing is best for unwinding?No particular type of boxing is better than another. If you’d prefer something technical, opt for savate.  If you want to throw punches like Muhammad Ali, traditional boxing is the way to go. To get your heart pumping, choose kick -boxing.  And if you want to tone your body while getting rid of stress, some cardio boxing on a punching bag is a great choice.It all depends on your tastes.The Best Types of Boxing for Weight LossSo how can you lose weight?Burning calories at a boxing club, of course! If you want to lose weight, there are few activities better than boxing. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)The good thing is that there are often multiple sessions a week.Boxing is a way to fight obesity. You burn a lot of calories during each session and convert fat into muscle.  You’ll probably gain muscle mass but also lose weight.  However, since muscle ways more than fat, the number on the scales may be bigger.  That said, you’ll be in much better shape with a leaner and more toned body.  Boxing is a good way to achieve a healthy body mass index (BMI).  Again, you’re probably wondering which type is the best.So which type of boxing is the best for losing weight?No matter which type you do, you’ll break a sweat and tone muscle. All types of boxing make use of almost every muscle in your body.Scientific studies show that an hour per week isn’t enough.  On average, a 90-minute session will burn around 1,250 calories, which will result in around a pound lost each week.  You co uld lose around 4 pounds a month if you attended 4 sessions a week. Of course, this weight-loss will plateau and you’ll start gaining muscle weight. Furthermore, boxing burns more calories than surfing or cycling. To lose weight through boxing, we recommend that you do at least two sessions a week.If you'd like to do boxing, mixed martial arts, or kickboxing classes, consider getting in touch with one of the many talented and experienced tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorial available, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, and each type comes with its pros and cons.Group tutorials tend to be the cheapest per student per hour since they're all paying for a share of the tutor's time. Of course, this means that you'll get less one-on-one time with your tutor or coach and they won't be able to tailor the sessions to just you as they'll have other clients that they need to keep happy.Face-to-face tutorials are just between you and your pri vate tutor. In this case, you'll be paying for a bespoke and tailored service and during your lessons, you'll enjoy the tutor or coach's undivided attention. This all comes at a price and while face-to-face private tutorials are the most cost-effective, they also tend to be the most costly per hour.Finally, thanks to the advent of the internet, you can now enjoy online private tutorials. With video conferencing software, a webcam, a microphone, and a decent internet connection, you can enjoy private tutoring from tutors all over the world. Since the tutor won't be travelling to their students and they can schedule more tutorials each week, they can charge a more competitive rate and online tutorials are usually cheaper per hour than face-to-face tutorials.

Get Math Homework Help To Learn Tricky Topics With Ease

Get Math Homework Help To Learn Tricky Topics With Ease Homework is an integral part of a student’s day to day activity and most students find math homework quite difficult to fathom. Since they find it tough, they are reluctant to proceed with it. And while away a lot of time without actually working on it. Homework is designed to help students acquaint themselves with the subject and explore topics discussed in class and its very purpose gets defeated when the topic at hand is difficult. Also, when students don’t spend time on their homework, they are bound to score poorly or fail the subject altogether and this leads to disastrous GPAs! The ideal solution to this problem is online math homework help and homework help in any other subject that they may require. Read To Know Top 13 #iPad #Educational #Apps For Kids http://t.co/c6NhHOQilv pic.twitter.com/OW3DcOg9Kq â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) October 7, 2015 What to look for in an online tutor? While choosing to learn online, there are a couple of things parents and students must keep in mind and they are: Expertise of the tutor in the subject xperience in teaching the subject and proficiency in it Teaching aids employed Availability and whether they are open to flexible schedules Rates charged (per hour or per session or monthly/weekly basis) Reviews and ratings the online math tutor has received from other students Look for a demo session to see if the tutor’s style suits your/your ward’s needs Patience the tutor exhibits towards slow learners and how he/she focuses on the learning needs of the student being taught. Comfort level of the student with the tutor Teaching methods employed by the tutor When choosing an online tutor, these are the things that one must look for (or for their wards in case of parents) and only then decide to enroll with them. Some students may not require complete help and may need instructions in a few topics or simply help with their homework or assignments and in such cases online tutors are flexible and provide the right sort of help as required by the students. How To Prepare For Your #Math Final #Exam Without Losing Your Sleep http://t.co/DjJbnRge9D pic.twitter.com/lJk9MkY9LA â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) September 16, 2015 Why get homework help? When a student opts for homework help, he/she gets a dedicated tutor who will break down a problem in step by step solutions and work with them till they get the hang of the topic. This helps improve the students’ understanding of the topic and in turn leads to better performance in tests and exams. Also, students voice their doubts without hesitation in such classes and get a lot of attention too which helps them focus and learn better. Math assignment help can lend a hand to a student flailing his/her arms about and who is drowning in math! Since assignments are evaluated and scored, students can get better GPAs and also understand the topic well. When they understand a topic well, they get perform better in exams and their revision and study time before exams is also reduced. Tutor Pace Offering #HighSchool #Math #Tutoring In Just $299.99, 20% #OFF To 1st 50 #Students http://t.co/Nd0pgaMK1l pic.twitter.com/2fSOZd24Y1 â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) August 6, 2015 Thus, roping in the right help is the key to better understanding, good scores and a healthy GPA!

ACT Math Strategy Series [Part 1 of 3]

ACT Math Strategy Series [Part 1 of 3] ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Math is a subject that most students either love or hate. In either case, preparing thoroughly for the Math section of the ACT is important in order to do your best. If math is not your strongest subject, building a solid foundation of understanding will be important for maintaining a decent overall score. If math comes easily for you, reviewing will still be important in order to fill in the gaps in your knowledge, especially if you want your score to truly reflect your ability. Either way, this series of posts gives you valuable strategies that will help you maximize your score. This post is the first of a three part series that looks at strategies for acing the ACT Math section. Knowledge Is More Important Than Strategy Keep in mind, strategy is a supplement for a basic understanding of the subject, not a substitute for it. The ACT measures your knowledge directly and your test taking ability only indirectly, so all the strategy in the world won’t help you if you don’t have the underlying subject knowledge. Focusing on knowledge first and strategy second ensures that you get both the most benefit from your education and the maximum score. Strategy #1: Know Your Outcome Having a target score in mind will help you prepare. If you are strong in math and want your results to show it, you will need to have a very strong understanding of the topics covered as well as be proficient with strategies and shortcuts that will allow you to complete the test questions quickly and accurately. But answering just two thirds of the questions correctly will earn you a solid, respectable 23, which is the average score. This may be acceptable to you if math isn’t your strong suit and you are aiming for a higher score on the other sections. Strategy #2: Use Your Brain Before Your Calculator A calculator is allowed for the ACT Math section, but all of the calculations are based on simple arithmetic (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing) and can be done without one. If you are good at basic arithmetic a calculator won’t necessarily help you to answer questions faster or more accurately, and it certainly won’t help you do the necessary thinking to solve the problems. Using a calculator can actually slow you down if you reach for it reflexively every time, especially if you end up hitting the wrong button and have to start over. Using a calculator is just a different skill, and doesn’t make up for a well-exercised brain, which is the most reliable tool that you have. Strategy #3: Use Drawings To Help You Think A picture is worth a thousand words, or sometimes a thousand equations if it helps you to understand a problem more clearly. Some problems will describe a figure but not display it, for example, in which case it can help you to draw it for yourself so that you can have it in front of you. Other problems will just be easier to understand and solve if you draw them out. Don’t draw or write more than you need to, but do make efficient use of the space you have provided for scratchwork. Dane Dormio is an online tutor and blogger with an unconventional approach to education. Visit his tutoring blog at www.synergy-tutoring.com. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '89b61843-23df-46ce-834f-80b7364de1b7', {});

GCSE Biology What are Genes

GCSE Biology What are Genes As part of National Science Engineering Week, one of  Tutorfair’s top Biology tutors, Frank I, explains how to get to grips with the GCSE Biology topic: genetic engineering. As Frank has a PhD in this specialism and has previously worked in the lab for Cancer Research, he certainly knows his stuff! His first blog post in this series on genetic engineering explains what genes actually are; not your standard Levi’s! Genetic engineering. Thanks to decades of film and TV, it’s a term that conjures images of extreme deformity like Godzilla and Spiderman. Though the reality isn’t quite as crazy, the current and future impact of genetic engineering on each of us and and especially our children is, and will be, HUGEâ€"Godzilla huge. As a species, human beings have been practising genetic engineering for thousands of years, though for most of that time we didn’t know it. From the moment the first tribe of hunter-gatherers settled down and realized that breeding the best wheat plants or the best cows together gave them even better wheat and better cows, human study into genetic engineering began. Today, we don’t just breed our crops and animals to get what we want, we pick genes from one species and pop them into anotherâ€"the ‘Frankenstein’ experiments we’ve all heard about. Let’s back up. Before we can explain what genetic engineering is, I suppose we should get clear on just what a gene is. Genes, DNA, chromosomes, the nucleusâ€"we lump them all together in our heads and that’s fine, because they are just different ways of looking at the same thing.  Chromosomes are just separate chunks of DNA, living in a bag inside the cell, called the nucleus.  If we read along each chromosome, we can divide it up into segments called genes, and there are thousands of them in each and every cell! So what is this DNA stuff that makes up our genes? Well, if you asked someone off the street they would probably say that DNA controls the cell and is responsible for our physical characteristics like eye colour or height.  And they’d be right!  But how exactly does DNA do this?  DNA holds the instructions for what a cell should be doing. For example: the cells of a baby growing in a pregnant mother are instructed to divide rapidly; a muscle cell is instructed to contract; and a nerve cell is told to send an electrical impulse to the brain. Think of DNA as the boss of a busy factory (the cell) sitting high in an office shouting orders down to thousands of workers busy building and assembling a car.  DNA doesn’t actually do any of the workâ€"the workers do!  And each worker is different from all the other workers.  Each worker is specialized to build one and only one part of the whole car, but each does its job very well.  In our cell, those workers are proteins. Proteins come in many different shapes and sizes: long and thin, spherical, ball-and-chain, and loads more.  Like snowflakes, no two are identical.  No two protein shapes are alike and no two jobs for our workers to do are alike.  And each of us can make about 30,000 different shapes, each with a different job!  Like our workers in the car factory where one is great at making the transmission while another is fantastic at making the steering wheelâ€"one protein (insulin) helps us control our blood sugar while another uses a blast of energy to spring forward and contract our muscles.  Different cells like brain cells or heart cells use a different mix of protein workers to do their jobs. Not only does the lazy DNA not do any of the actual work, DNA doesn’t even MAKE the workers.  Little protein-making machines far, far from the nucleus do that job.  DNA simply holds the information for HOW to make the proteins. So how does this all actually work?  Well, I’m all typed out.  Shall we meet back here later for part 2? If you have found this blog post helpful, you might also find Frank’s previous blog post explaining photosynthesis useful. If you or your child needs help with Biology  or  you fancy private tuition  then please  view Frank’s personal profile on the Tutorfair website to  book a lesson.

OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate - Tutor Hunt Blog

OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate, says ex government advisor OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate, says ex government advisorSchoolsWith no way to objectively assess how good one school is over another many people will simply rely on anecdotal evidence. Parents may select a school they attended many years ago, wishing for their child to enjoy the same educational benefits that they benefited from - or they might choose another school they have heard is academically good, perhaps from friends whose children are pupils there. Like any institution schools can change over time: headmasters and mistresses will come and go, much of the teaching staff will be entirely different decade to the next; and funding structures from local councils may vary over time. All these factors can have a dramatic influence on the school. How is it possible then for parents, when trying to select a place for their child, to objectively judge how good a school is? League table results can be misleading, as schools often have the practice of only allowing pupils of appropriate ability to sit certain exams. Ofsted reports seem like the perfect solution to determining just how good, or bad, a school may be. The institution itself is a non ministerial department of the UK government, unaffiliated with any particular school or university, and is an independent institution which reports only to parliament. Schools can be visited at any point during the term, and though they used to have to give 48 hours notice, this is presently set to change to a mere 15 minutes notice, with Ofsted announcing their imminent arrival with a phone call. New research published by the EDSK, a new Education and Skills think-tank, has cast serious doubt as to the reliability and objectivity of Ofsted reports. The results are indeed astonishing, with separate international studies conducted during 2012 and 2013 revealing that different inspectors are able to arrive at vastly contrasting assessments about the very same school. A small discrepancy would be expected in any kind of large scale review - but the research from the EDSK has shown that, in as many as 50 per cent of inspections, simply having a different inspector can mean the same school receives a vastly different grading. Tom Richmond, Director of the EDSK and former advisor to the Education Secretaries Michael Gove and Nicky Morgan, has said the whole rating system is misleading parents in as many as half of all cases. He did express understanding at how parents consider Ofsted reports to be helpful when selecting a school for their child, but cautioned as to their reliability: `We know that many parents use Ofsted grades when choosing a school for their child. But these same parents have never been told these grades could be very misleading in terms of how well a school is performing.` `Instead, we should focus on giving parents simple, accessible information to help them decide if a school is right for their child rather than Ofsted trying to come up with all the answers themselves.` Ofsted are planning to make changes to the way it assesses schools, with their new system being rolled out this September. The new grading system will apparently focus more on children`s behaviour, with the whole school being marked down if any unruly or discourteous conduct is observed. The new framework for the report will feature a `personal development` category, which will judge how schools are planning to build up their pupils` `resilience and confidence.` A spokesperson Ofsted has recently declared: `We are open to serious debate about how we inspect, as shown through our recent consultation on a new inspection approach. We will be publishing the outcome soon.` The proposed changes have met with positive comments, with The Association of School and College Leaders saying the alterations Ofsted are proposing are a `step in the right direction`. Tom Richmond, Senior Research Fellow at Policy Exchange think-tank in Westminster has said that there`s no evidence that suggests a benefit to `summarising an entire school in a single number or phrase.` Ofsted itself have criticised the report, and rejected the judgement that their school grading system is `inaccurate.` Despite their defence, it seems that Ofsted is planning a major change to its assessment system. Schools do need to be independently graded - parents need a comprehensive tool to help them select the right school for their child; and school`s themselves need to be kept under check, to ensure standards do not slip. 11 months ago0Add a Comment