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Pointless GCSEs should be scrapped, says senior MP Pointless GCSEs should be scrapped, says senior MP
(about 2 hours later)
GCSEs should be scrapped and A-levels should be replaced by a mix of academic and vocational subjects, says Robert Halfon, chairman of the Education Select Committee.GCSEs should be scrapped and A-levels should be replaced by a mix of academic and vocational subjects, says Robert Halfon, chairman of the Education Select Committee.
His radical rewriting of England's exam system is designed to give young people a much broader range of skills for their working lives.His radical rewriting of England's exam system is designed to give young people a much broader range of skills for their working lives.
The former Tory minister says GCSEs for 16-year-olds have become "pointless".The former Tory minister says GCSEs for 16-year-olds have become "pointless".
The Department for Education defended GCSEs as "gold standard" exams.The Department for Education defended GCSEs as "gold standard" exams.
But head teachers' leader Geoff Barton said the ideas had a "lot of merit". The exams taken by 16-year-olds have recently been reformed, with a new numerical grading system.
Mr Halfon, who is due to present his blueprint at an event run by the Edge vocational education charity, wants to end what he sees as an excessively narrow academic pathway in secondary schools. The government has given no suggestion that it would want to push ahead with such further changes.
Broader range of subjectsBroader range of subjects
But head teachers' leader Geoff Barton said the ideas had a "lot of merit".
Lord Baker, who introduced the exams as education secretary in the 1980s, said "the days of GCSEs are numbered".
Mr Halfon, who presented his blueprint at an event in London run by the Edge vocational education charity, wants to end what he sees as an excessively narrow academic pathway in secondary schools.
Instead of taking academic subjects at GCSE and A-level, he wants young people to have a broader curriculum, with vocational training alongside traditional subjects.Instead of taking academic subjects at GCSE and A-level, he wants young people to have a broader curriculum, with vocational training alongside traditional subjects.
The MP is proposing a baccalaureate system to replace A-levels, with a mix of arts, sciences and vocational subjects and exams at the age of 18.The MP is proposing a baccalaureate system to replace A-levels, with a mix of arts, sciences and vocational subjects and exams at the age of 18.
"Get rid of GCSEs, which seem to me pointless. Instead there should be some kind of assessment to show how far you're progressing," he says."Get rid of GCSEs, which seem to me pointless. Instead there should be some kind of assessment to show how far you're progressing," he says.
"I would rather that all the concentration should be on the final exam before you leave.""I would rather that all the concentration should be on the final exam before you leave."
Mr Halfon says England has been trapped in a false division between academic and vocational study - and this is failing to prepare young people for technological changes in the workplace.Mr Halfon says England has been trapped in a false division between academic and vocational study - and this is failing to prepare young people for technological changes in the workplace.
"The march of the robots" and the acceleration of artificial intelligence could remove a quarter of jobs, he says."The march of the robots" and the acceleration of artificial intelligence could remove a quarter of jobs, he says.
He says there should be a royal commission on how to prepare for the impact of artificial intelligence and robotics.He says there should be a royal commission on how to prepare for the impact of artificial intelligence and robotics.
"I think it's going to be dramatic. It will change the way we teach, change the way we learn and have a massive impact on jobs and skills.""I think it's going to be dramatic. It will change the way we teach, change the way we learn and have a massive impact on jobs and skills."
Skills shortagesSkills shortages
The former education minister says young people are leaving school without the skills needed for work, at the same time as industry is complaining of skills shortages.The former education minister says young people are leaving school without the skills needed for work, at the same time as industry is complaining of skills shortages.
But scrapping GCSEs could raise questions for secondary schools without sixth forms - which under the proposed changes would no longer have the focus of any public exams.But scrapping GCSEs could raise questions for secondary schools without sixth forms - which under the proposed changes would no longer have the focus of any public exams.
It would also mean, since the removal of AS-levels, young people would apply to university without having the results of any public exams.It would also mean, since the removal of AS-levels, young people would apply to university without having the results of any public exams.
It would also raise questions about what would happen to young people who currently take GCSEs but do not stay to take exams at the age of 18.It would also raise questions about what would happen to young people who currently take GCSEs but do not stay to take exams at the age of 18.
But Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, backed the underlying principle.But Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, backed the underlying principle.
"GCSEs are a product of a different era when many young people left education at the age of 16, but this is no longer the case, and young people are now expected to remain in full-time education or training until the age of 18. "GCSEs are a product of a different era when many young people left education at the age of 16, but this is no longer the case, and young people are now expected to remain in full-time education or training until the age of 18," he said.
"It would therefore make a great deal of sense to replace GCSEs with some sort of light-touch assessment which would help determine post-16 routes rather than persisting with high-stakes GCSEs.""It would therefore make a great deal of sense to replace GCSEs with some sort of light-touch assessment which would help determine post-16 routes rather than persisting with high-stakes GCSEs."
But Andrew Halls, head teacher of King's College School, an independent school in south-west London, said it was "absolutely the wrong idea".
"This country's record in vocational training is terrible, to muddle that up with an academic qualification is a complete disaster."
"A lot of money and thought needs to be put into vocational training," he said, noting that "the government's programme for apprenticeships hasn't worked either".
"They really need to stop fiddling and changing - and make things work," he said.
Changing technologyChanging technology
Alice Barnard, chief executive of the Edge Foundation, said the plans reflected the "concerns not only of parents, teachers and pupils themselves, but employers and business leaders".Alice Barnard, chief executive of the Edge Foundation, said the plans reflected the "concerns not only of parents, teachers and pupils themselves, but employers and business leaders".
"Technology is moving at such a rapid pace and change happening so quickly, we are failing young people if we do not enable them to develop the adaptability and the critical skills they need," she said."Technology is moving at such a rapid pace and change happening so quickly, we are failing young people if we do not enable them to develop the adaptability and the critical skills they need," she said.
There have been previous attempts to combine vocational and academic pathways - such as Sir Mike Tomlinson's review of exams and the diplomas introduced under the last Labour government.There have been previous attempts to combine vocational and academic pathways - such as Sir Mike Tomlinson's review of exams and the diplomas introduced under the last Labour government.
Mr Halfon says he would expect a "massive backlash" against such a change to GCSEs and A-levels.Mr Halfon says he would expect a "massive backlash" against such a change to GCSEs and A-levels.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said vocational options had been improved, with apprenticeships and the new T-level technical qualifications.A spokesman for the Department for Education said vocational options had been improved, with apprenticeships and the new T-level technical qualifications.
He defended the value of GCSEs as "the gold standard qualification at age 16 and a passport to further study and employability".He defended the value of GCSEs as "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.""They were recently reformed so that their demand matches that in other high performing countries and better prepare students for work and further study."
Did you leave school without any GCSEs? Are you or your child planning to leave school at 16? How do you feel about this idea? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Did you leave school without any GCSEs? Are you or your child planning to leave school at 16? How do you feel about this idea? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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