Constant tinkering undermines GCSEs

Constant tinkering with GCSEs undermines the reliability of the tests and increases the risk of errors in exam papers, says the Association of School and College Leaders as Ofqual confirmed today that all GCSEs will move to terminal, rather than modular, exams by 2014.

Brian Lightman said:

“It’s disappointing that the government seems to have ignored the views of the majority of respondents to the consultation. There are sound arguments for keeping some modular exams, and taking an exam at the end of the year does not make it any more rigorous.”

“Constant tinkering with exams undermines the reliability of the tests and increases the inherent risk of the kinds of errors we saw last summer. It creates chaos for teachers, students and exam boards, all of whom were just getting to grips with the last set of changes. Exam boards will now have to republish specifications with detail of assessments, which means we still don’t know exactly what the exams will look like. This is causing yet more problems for schools which are trying to give year 9 students and their parents as much information as possible before choosing their options.

We know there will be a major GCSE revision following the outcome of the National Curriculum Review. It would be much more sensible to wait and introduce all the changes at the same time so that teachers and students have time to prepare.

It is right that students should be taught proper spelling and grammar, but we question the apparently arbitrary nature of the subjects chosen. It appears scientists don’t need to be able to spell but historians do.”

15 December 2011