Heads not happy with GCSE plans
EAST Hampshire headteachers say plans to replace GCSE examinations with a new certificate are nonsense.
Under proposed government reforms GCSEs will be replaced by an English Baccalaureate Certificate in 2015.
To gain a full certificate, students must pass a three hour examination, including core subjects such as maths and English. At the moment, year round coursework is taken into consideration when deciding GCSE results. The Petersfield School headteacher, Nigel Poole, said: “The new system will be reliant upon chance, it is an extended memory test.
“You cannot examine teamwork or artistic ability in these examinations. It’s nonsense.”
Mill Chase headteacher Joyce Adams said: “We are concerned the new certificate will create a two tier system with some children not able to have their achievements recognised and valued.”
Bohunt School headteacher Neil Strowger said he is concerned about the sweeping nature of the changes. But East Hampshire MP Damien Hinds supported the proposal, saying: “We have been slipping down the global education league table.
“These new qualifications will be for a wide ability range – but without GCSEs’ two-tier structure. Young people who can’t get to the key level at 16 can have opportunities at 17 or 18.”
Consultation results are due out in the New Year.
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Weather for Petersfield
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
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Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
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