GCSE, A-Level Education Under Question
A-Level education and expectations of its given academic skills are under question. The BBC reports that even though trust in both the A-level and General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) systems has increased over the years, a growing number of teachers still have serious concerns about the way exams are organized.
Almost two out of five teachers think A-level marking has deteriorated over the past two years, research suggests. Nearly a third of teachers believe GCSE marking has worsened, says a study for exams watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
According to The Times, some people blame schools and the whole testing system that make students develop testing techniques, rather than develop and input analytical abilities into their education.
Despite expectations of a record crop of A-level results tomorrow, many universities believe that basic literacy and writing standards among undergraduates are falling. Others point to the trend of widening access to university to students from “nontraditional backgrounds”, which means that it is no longer just the very brightest students who get in.
The BBC also quotes Dr. Mary Bousted, the secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, who shares her concerns about the education system in general.
“Maybe the whole machine has got too big, maybe the pressure on results is now too great. It’s time to rethink assessment along with the national curriculum, and give a bigger say to the teachers.”
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