Collaborative Approaches to 14-19 Provision - Communities and ...

14-19 PATHFINDERS: THE SECOND YEARVariations in the pace of learning154. As the following assessments show, this theme continued to be pursued by a minorityof the pathfinders:More than expected As expected Less than expected Not applicable4 6 2 19In some of the pathfinders which were pursuing this theme there were substantialdevelopments. In East Manchester key stage 4 begins in year 9. This enables students toenter GCSE either at the end of year 10 or year 11 (i.e. it supports both acceleration anddeceleration of learning). A majority of Cumbrian schools enabled some students to takeGCSE a year earlier and some developed early entrance to AS levels (DfES, 2004a).The AS in Critical Thinking had been provided in year 11 in several areas includingSouthampton, Hampshire and the Salford partnership.155. The Coventry pathfinder provided an interesting example of different approaches toAS acceleration, with an AS Maths course running parallel with GCSE Maths in years 10 and11 and an AS French course end-on with GCSE, i.e. French GCSE was completed in year 10and AS in year 11. Harrow was another pathfinder which had piloted different approaches toaccelerated AS work. There had been some preliminary discussions in a few pathfindersabout the possible implementation of higher education work in year 13.156. Coordinators identified the timetabling of variations in the pace of learning as beingan obstacle. Much of the accelerated AS learning was conducted in twilight time and therewas concern that this was not sustainable in the longer term. Acceleration also raisedplanning progression issues (see Coventry case study for more on this matter).157. Thus, there was some radical piloting of variations in the pace of learning in somepathfinders and these approaches have the potential to help in the conceptualisation ofpersonalised learning and increase understanding of issues involved in a shift away fromrigidly age-related learning. However, this was a minority pursuit within pathfinders, most51