Question mark3, by Terry Freedman.png — Question marks, by Terry Freedman

Understanding exam grading

August 13, 2025

As the GCSE and ‘A’ Level results days are almost upon us, here are some useful guides as to what the gradings mean.

Recent book reviews

Quick look: Digital Culture Shock: Who Creates Technology and Why This Matters

Chapters look at how technology is used around the world, online communities, and building a culturally just infrastucture, amongst other topics.

Artificially Gifted Notes from a Post-Genius World.jpg

Quick look: Artificially Gifted: Notes from a Post-Genius World

The author, Mechelle Gilford, explores how AI may render our usual way of interpreting the concept of “gifted” obsolete.

Quick look: Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us―and How AI Could Save Lives

Dr Bot discusses something I hadn’t really considered…

Review: Seven Brief Lessons on Physics: Anniversary Edition

Rovelli draws readers into his world by describing the development of theories that scientists have posited to try and explain our world and the universe beyond.

Review: Dear Data

The authors spent a year sending each other postcards on a different theme each week, with pictorial representations of the data they had collected.

Review: Blueprints: How mathematics shapes creativity

What place might Blueprints merit on a teacher’s bookshelves?

Review: Renaturing: Small Ways to Wild the World

This book could prove useful to schools keen to cultivate their own dedicated ‘back to nature’ area.

Review: Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home

A couple of generations before the first internet cafés were opened, someone attempted pretty much the same thing by opening a ‘radio café’.

Review: Level Up Your Lesson Plans: Ignite the Joy of Learning with Fun and Educational Materials

This book is awash with ideas.

Review: Conversations With Third Reich Contemporaries: : From Luke Holland’s Final Account

This may be useful for the Hiostory department in your school.