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Heads' chief warns: We must keep faith with A-levels
James Reed Education Correspondent A LEADING headteacher yesterday warned of the dangers of large numbers of independent schools abandoning established exams like GCSEs and A-levels.
Andrew Boggis, chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), defended the reputation of A-levels and urged fellow private school heads to support a national system of exams.
The reputation of the A-level as the "gold standard" of school education has come under fire because of complaints that the growing number of students scoring A grades is making it harder for universities to pick the best candidates.
Scarborough College has already decided to abandon A-levels altogether while Leeds Grammar, one of the 250 elite schools represented by HMC, has announced plans to put at least some of its sixth form students through the international baccalaureate when it merges with Leeds Girls 'High School to form one of the largest independent schools in the country.
Leeds Grammar is also among a growing number of independent schools offering the International GCSE exam (iGCSE) in subjects like maths rather than the normal GCSE course.
The iGCSE, originally designed for overseas students, is considered by some teachers to be a tougher challenge as it focuses less on coursework and offers teachers more independence on what pupils study.
Some independent schools are working with the CIE exam board on the creation of a new course, the Cambridge Pre-U exam, which will be marketed as an alternative to A-levels.
Mr Boggis, speaking at the HMC annual meeting in Manchester, challenged those who complained about the number of A grades at A-level and insisted that the exams still worked well for more than 90 per cent of students.
He insisted that "with a little more honest tweaking" they could be improved to help universities judge between the brightest pupils through measures like reducing coursework and offering more challenging questions, but he rejected the idea of introducing a new A* grade as has been suggested.
Mr Boggis added: "Above all, personally I should prefer there to be one national system which we all support; not a separate independent schools exam system and let alone one with overt links to any particular named school or schools."
Mr Boggis's own school, Forest School, in East London, has chosen to stick with A-levels and GCSE exams.
His comments signal the widespread uncertainty within independent schools about whether to hold out for reforms which re-establish the reputation of A-levels or to abandon them in favour of an alternative like the Cambridge Pre-U or the International Baccalaureate.
The same uncertainty has also spread to the state sector, as schools like Harrogate Grammar offer the international baccalaureate to some students.
Heads at the conference yesterday warned schools could not hang on for reforms forever.
Independent schools are already lobbying the Government to recognise the iGCSE for use in the state sector. However, Ministers have argued the iGCSE is designed for international study and so is not suitable for state schools.
James.reed@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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