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Looking for Mathematics past papers from around 1920s onwards

Last post 13/01/11 at 17:45 by autismuk, 274 replies
Post started by intuitionist1 on 02/01/11 at 00:40

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    Posted by: weebecka 10/01/2011 at 18:52
    Joined on 15/09/2010
    Posts 970

    I don't think you're correctly understanding what it is that I'm espousing yet though beta.

    Too far too come this fast.

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    Posted by: francesgraham1971 10/01/2011 at 20:29
    Joined on 26/05/2010
    Posts 3

     I'm afraid I can't be as much help except to say that I also totally agree that to try and state that the exams have not been 'dumbed down' is only to give a large number of people a huge laugh!  I took my A levels in 1989, and was the last year of O levels in 1987 (but took my maths in 1986).  So, although I cannot vouch for the exams getting easier from earlier, this would not surprise me at all!  However, I'm afraid that Cambridge board stated that the candidate was not allowed to keep the exam paper so I'm not sure anyone will be able to provide these except teachers or the exam board...  I did London board for A level so I guess they had the same rules (or maybe we just weren't allowed to keep them by the school!)

    Without the exam papers though, I think it is safe to say that they have got easier without a doubt - otherwise we would be able to to use them for 'exam practice' without any problems....

     

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    Posted by: briceanus 10/01/2011 at 20:46
    Joined on 22/12/2004
    Posts 206

     Sorry to hijack the sub-plot of this thread

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    weebecka:

     I was HOD for 5 terms before my school shut, taking four year groups through external exams, all of whom exceeded all their targets at multi-levelled FTTDs, while being externally inspected up to 7 times a year and only receiving positive reviews.

    But isn't it rather unusual to be externally inspected up to 7 times per year when all those inspections are positive?  Why so many needed if all was rosy?

    Bric

     

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    Posted by: briceanus 10/01/2011 at 20:46
    Joined on 22/12/2004
    Posts 206

     ignore the formatting garbage

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    Posted by: googolplex 10/01/2011 at 20:53
    Joined on 17/07/2009
    Posts 105
    briceanus:

     ignore the formatting garbage

    No! The formatting garbage is, by a country mile, the most interesting and useful part of this thread....
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    Posted by: weebecka 10/01/2011 at 21:19
    Joined on 15/09/2010
    Posts 970

    briceanus:
    But isn't it rather unusual to be externally inspected up to 7 times per year when all those inspections are positive?  Why so many needed if all was rosy?
     

    It just seemed like a self employment scheme for the school improvement industry to be honest.

    Was re-reading the reports earlier and apart from the front paragraph and odd bits it didn't really look like they applied to our school.  It just looked like the grade had been decided before the inspector turned up and they had cut and pasted bits of standard reports which fit with that grade.

    The school had got into trouble because it had had a horrific head who had bullied the staff, implemented ludicrous policies and had bankrupted the school.  Once the staff had ditched the head things immediately improved 5000% - until the HMI recommendations started to kick in.Indifferent

    7 inspections a year is insane - the pressure was horrific.  One member of staff dropped dead the weekend before the summer holidays - when we were still waiting for our summer term HMI inspection.  But isn't it the norm for special measures (HMI every term, LA every term and a specialist status inspection)?

    It was so, so much better pre Ofsted.

     

     

    By the way betamale.  I'm wondering if you found my page on LinkedIn but for some reason (maybe because you weren't logged in) it only showed you my last 3 schools?  I think DM did that too?

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    Posted by: bombaysapphire 10/01/2011 at 21:22
    Joined on 02/10/2005
    Posts 6,787

    weebecka:

    I don't think you're correctly understanding what it is that I'm espousing yet though beta.

    I don't think I "correctly understand what you're espousing" either.  I have read pages and pages of posts but still struggle to see anything meaningful and significant.

    Is that my fault (and Betamale's) or yours?

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    Posted by: weebecka 10/01/2011 at 21:39
    Joined on 15/09/2010
    Posts 970

    bombaysapphire:
    Is that my fault (and Betamale's) or yours?
     

    Neither.  In fact instead of looking for blame why not give credit that we are all still here and still talking when we were coming from such different places?

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    Posted by: bombaysapphire 10/01/2011 at 21:43
    Joined on 02/10/2005
    Posts 6,787

    weebecka:

    bombaysapphire:
    Is that my fault (and Betamale's) or yours?
     

    Neither.  In fact instead of looking for blame why not give credit that we are all still here and still talking when we were coming from such different places?

    I bow to your expert facilitation skills (and ability to continue to say nothing of any meaning).

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    Posted by: weebecka 10/01/2011 at 21:54
    Joined on 15/09/2010
    Posts 970

    bombaysapphire:
    I bow to your expert facilitation skills
     

    One prefers a curtsey bombaymix.

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