Scrap ‘pointless’ GCSEs says Education Select Committee Chair
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Education Select Committee Chair Robert Halfon MP has called for GCSEs to be scrapped and A-Levels replaced by a baccalaureate.
He argues that emphasis on a “knowledge-rich curriculum”, through performance measures like the EBacc, has pressurised teachers to train to the test. This leads to the focus being on rote learning above skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and team-working, Mr Halfon believes.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said:
“GSCEs are the gold standard qualification at age 16 and a passport to further study and employability – they were recently reformed so that their demand matches that in other high-performing countries and better prepare students for work and further study. “We are also taking forward reforms from the Independent Panel on Technical Education to give students a clear choice between an academic or technical path at aged 16. T Levels, alongside apprenticeships, will form the basis of our high-quality technical education offer.”
Commenting on Schools North East’s twitter page, one North East school governor said:
“So when a young person leaves one of our many 11 -16 schools they will have…nothing to show for it? This is half an idea at best”
And one Secondary Head Teacher responded:
“We have just undergone a huge programme of reform in GCSEs and A levels UNDER A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT. If they don’t want even more teachers to leave the profession, they will leave things alone for a few years.”