The gauge to our methods

New canvas art on school walls

Yes! 2010. Brand new year to start our processes and methods. The O Level results were launched yesterday. Mixed feelings for those numbers which appeared for Art.

I am very happy that our Sec 4N pupil who bravely took up the challenge to take her O Level Art this year topped her class! I am really delighted for her achievement, for I can vividly remember that it was barely 2 years ago that the same girl belonged to the lower tier of the class in academic scores. Through her strong belief in herself, and that excellence can be derived from repeated practice, all her time and energy in this had paid off, handsomely in fact, with a glorious A1.

Her achievement serves as an excellent example for the power of belief. It serves as a reminder to all of us that decisions precede action, and that the mind will have to expect itself to succeed before the corresponding actions and behaviours kick in. She shines as a great role model for her juniors, and especially so for her contemporaries in the NA stream who can now firmly assure themselves that such levels of performance are certainly within their abilities.

Although the proportions of distinctions have improved over last year's, the results also gave us fresh perspectives on how time and energy played out their parts in the resultant equation. It is not all direct I have to say, and I can imagine our pupils' frustation when they missed their As after doing so much. We need to furthur decode this aspect of assessment and have even more clarity in guiding intent. In other words, we have to work smarter.

The thing which broke my heart is to witness for the first time an art pupil not passing in this subject. Although the candidate had also not cleared her Prelims prior to her O Levels, I had thought that the last push was sufficient to carry her over, apparently it was not. For me, a failure is both unacceptable and unnecessary. This is an additional subject taken after school, and in this selective context, should deliver premium returns to pupils so that the fruits of their labour do count towards something.

There are many lessons to learn each time the results are out.