What do you think of grade exams?

Grade exams are very popular in Music (Grade 1-8 performance / theory, then diplomas). I think Drama also has grade exams. Every pupil works through the grade system at his or her own pace (you can skip grades if you are a fast learner, or take more time per grade if you are a slow learner) and everyone exits it at different stages according to ability or interest.

How about grade exams in Maths or French? You would probably need to abolish classes based on age, and rather set them by stage of learning, but that may not be a bad thing.

Actually, in French something similar already exists but is not used in schools - the CEFR exams.

Good for some subjects.

Yes, I imagine it would work particularly well for "accumulative" practical subjects.

For example, in Music, at Grade 8 you will still use ALL the skills you learned at Grade 1. The same would be true in foreign languages - but it is not necessarily the case in native English (depends how you structure the curriculum) and most probably not possible in History or Geography or other subjects which are heavily based on topical knowledge rather than practical use.

I think it could work in Maths, Computing and the Sciences though, if you restructure them a bit.

Music tends to be taught one-to-one so a grading system works really well. But how on earth would a teacher plan a lesson for 30 mixed ability kids on a grade system?

They wouldn't, of course. Classes would be set by grade rather than by age.

Ok. I still don't think it would work practically. If you were a low ability 16 year old, how would you feel seeing Y7 kids overtaking you?

Yes, that could be quite awkward. On the other hand you may really excel at other subjects. I think it's OK to accept that everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

Agreed. Hence streaming classes in some cases. Under your method a whole school would have to take one subject class at a time requiring teachers either to be multi-disciplinary or have 10 times as many teachers.

They wouldn't, of course. Classes would be set by grade rather than by age.

Catch is timetabling

. Given students come from different years re this structure, all would possibly need the same periods for music so they could attend their appropriate ability group. This means the school needs multiple music rooms (and instruments) and multiple teachers all in attendance at the same time and all twiddling their very flexible thumbs (if piano players) the rest of the time.

It is a good idea but trying to accommodate the timetabling across say a whole secondary would be a nightmare.

It would be awkward if everyone is working towards a "grade" instead of the actual skills required.