No fixed dates for weighted assessments

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Hi all, this year Rosyth primary school adopted new approach to weighted assessments by not providing fixed dates but only assessment periods. Fixed dates will only be given for End of year exams.
The principal explained this is on line with MOE approach to reduce stress and encourage continuous learning… He also said many other primary schools have adopted same approach.
Well, I checked with acquaintances from few other primary schools and their schools still provide fixed dates.
I just want to find out which other primary schools have also started not giving fixed dates for WAs?

Thanks for sharing.

[mystique_j]

Hi, my child’s school has started this since last year. No exact date given in PG, just stated which week the WAs will be held. However, closer to the exam week, the teachers would inform each class separately, which day is for which subject.

Also, the WAs are no longer set at the same day and time for all classes. It is held during that subject’s lesson period. That means, every class will be tested on different days and time. I find this strange because, that means that friends or cousins or twin siblings can actually share what’s being tested with each other, as some classes take the test earlier than other classes.

I’m not sure if this was MOE’s direction or the school’s way to minimize disruptions to curriculum timing (if they were to block off fixed date and time for all classes to take the test together VS taking the test during the subject’s period)

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@mystique_j
Thanks so much for sharing! Rosyth teachers are super tight lipped. I understand the students tried asking teachers exactly when the tests will be conducted but the teachers just pretended they had no idea. They did tell the students not to discuss the papers with other classes so I think the papers are tested at different periods for different classes as well.
I think the key is most parents and children are feeling super stressful with no fixed test dates contrary to aim of reducing stress and emphasis on exams…as we cannot plan properly. At the end of the day, these are still weighted and on report book.
St Nics, Northland, Maris Stella still have fixed dates. I heard for Tao Nan, they informed which subjects will be in that week , which is better than telling us 4 subjects over 2 weeks and in the end, bam, 4 subjects in 1 week back to back…

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I wonder if any parent agrees that having no fixed test dates for WA helps with reducing stress and over emphasis on academic grades? Or do you feel that this increases stress levels ?