By Laura Clark Education Reporter
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Critics warn of further 'dumbing down' in the
classroom
THE nation's exams chief yesterday outlined radical plans for
a new GCSE system. Pupils should take a mix of academic and vocational units
within each subject, said Dr Ken Boston, chief executive of the Qualifications
and Curriculum Authority.
But education campaigners immediately warned this could lead to a
'dumbing
down', with much of the theory traditionally taught at GCSE being sidelined,
leading to falling standards. Explaining his proposals, Dr Boston said GCSE
courses, introduced in the late 1980s, had developed in a way that was
'piecemeal' rather than coherent.
Dr Boston, who took over as QCA's chief executive last summer, called for
all GCSEs to be split into units as A-levels were two years ago. Many GCSEs
still consist of a single set of exams sat at the end of the course. All
pupils would have to take 'core' GCSE units but could choose from a range
of optional units to build a full qualification. The optional units would
be 'specialist' and academic or vocational in nature. Each unit would be
worth a certain number of credits, according to the 'volume' of learning
it entailed. Pupils would need to gain a certain number of credits to achieve
a full GCSE. This would bring GCSEs in line with A-levels, GNVQs and NVQs,
which are already unitised, he said.
Writing in the Times Educational Supplement, Dr Boston said: 'The
purpose would be to allow young people to navigate their own way according
to interest and aptitude, by selecting combinations of units which build
the qualification in a way that suits them, and open up options for career
development.'
He rejected calls to scrap GCSEs altogether, saying they should be kept as
a 'progress check on the route towards advanced level study'.
Critics said his vision was similar to the Government's own 'hybrid' science
and geography GCSEs. These involve reducing the amount of compulsory study
to try to create more topical lessons, such as science classes on cloning
and GM food. Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said:
'A lot of parents and employers will fear this will dumb down the whole GCSE
system and sideline traditional subject content for many pupils. By offering
youngsters so many choices they could fail to learn
the basics.'
Earlier this week, Ofsted criticised a curriculum shake-up which converted
A-levels into modular courses. David Hart, general secretary of the National
Association of Head Teachers, described Dr Boston's plans as a 'temporary
solution'. Former schools inspector Mike Tomlinson is continuing his inquiry
into reforming
education
for 14 to 19-year-olds. He is considering whether to work GCSEs and A-levels
into a new European-style baccalaureate qualification.
l.clark@dailymail.co.uk
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