GCSEs face axe as Gove presses grade numbers

Ofqual – the examinations regulator for England – is said to be proposing that course work is abolished in all core exams except science, while re-sits will be curtailed.

The news has prompted warnings from a leading teaching union that too much reform of GCSE and A-levels at the same time will be a recipe for disaster.

Under the proposed change to GCSEs, all end-of-course exams would be sat in the summer – apart from English and maths exams in November – and students would have to wait a full year if they wanted to re-sit them.

Ofqual – which is due to launch a consultation shortly – was said to have decided that a new name was needed for the exam as the Welsh Assembly had decided to retain the name GCSE for its exams, which will continue to feature modules and course work.

The exams watchdog has, however, refused to discuss details of its consultation paper, describing the I-level reports as “speculative”.

Reports say that although the title I level – or Intermediate level – does not appear in the consultation paper, it has been discussed by the regulator.

A new grade 8 would replace A* as the highest grade – although fewer would be awarded in order the reflect Education Secretary Michael Gove’s aim of making exams harder while providing greater differentiation between the most able pupils.

Having 8 rather than 1 at the top would leave open the option of introducing a grade 9 if it was felt necessary to make it even more challenging.

The changes – covering English, maths, physics, chemistry, biology, double science, history and geography – would be introduced in schools from 2015, according to a report in a national newspaper.

An Ofqual spokeswoman would not discuss details of its paper saying: “We will be consulting shortly.”

Labour has criticised the suggested plans.

Shadow Education Secretary Stephen Twigg said: “This is now the third time Michael Gove has tried to abolish GCSEs. He keeps failing because he hasn’t got a thought through plan to improve exams.

“Changing letters to numbers and the name of the exams is hardly the key to higher standards.

“We need serious proposals that learn from the best countries in the world. This needs a rigorous focus on English and maths and testing both academic knowledge and the skills that young people will need in the workplace.”

Labour said that announcing and then abandoning plans to bring back an O-level style qualification and then also “U-turning” on a plan to replace GCSEs with English Baccalaureate Certificates had caused confusion and a loss of confidence in the GCSE exams pupils are taking now.

They also said that it needs to be explained whether these new proposals related to all GCSE subjects or just some subject areas.

Mr Gove first raised the possibility of replacing grades with a numbers system when he gave evidence about exam reform to the Education Select Committee last month.

Commenting on the reports about the latest proposals, Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said: “While we know that Ofqual will be consulting on GCSE reform shortly, it is not clear whether these new proposals for a numbering system and a new name will be included in the consultation.

“Neither is it clear as yet, how these changes will affect the quality of the new qualifications content. We believe that many students will be disadvantaged by the move away from a modular GCSE structure to an exam at the end of two years. Given that the school leaving age is rising to 18, should the government be considering whether there is an actual need for assessment at 16?

“In addition, changes proposed for 2015 in England, will not be applied in Wales or Northern Ireland, meaning different exams, possibly with the same name.

“This could lead to issues of qualification portability for students moving between the three countries. ATL is concerned the proposed timescale is far too short to implement such a large scale reform of GCSEs and also ensure that the exams are fit for purpose. The government is making too many changes at once, to both GCSEs and A-levels, which is a recipe for disaster for young people and teachers.”