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| Exam boards worry about Diplomas | Exam boards worry about Diplomas |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The main exam boards have urged the government "in the strongest terms" to delay its academic Diplomas in England. | The main exam boards have urged the government "in the strongest terms" to delay its academic Diplomas in England. |
| They said they feared the planned start in 2011 would harm the development of assessment and standards. | They said they feared the planned start in 2011 would harm the development of assessment and standards. |
| Last week the government announced it would delay one of the Diplomas: advanced level science. | Last week the government announced it would delay one of the Diplomas: advanced level science. |
| But it said science at lower levels, and all the language and humanities Diplomas, would start as planned and exam boards had been fully involved. | But it said science at lower levels, and all the language and humanities Diplomas, would start as planned and exam boards had been fully involved. |
| We urge you in the strongest terms to defer implementation for a year to allow for an integrated development of content, assessment and pedagogy Exam boards' letter | We urge you in the strongest terms to defer implementation for a year to allow for an integrated development of content, assessment and pedagogy Exam boards' letter |
| The more vocational Diplomas are being rolled out already. | The more vocational Diplomas are being rolled out already. |
| England's Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "There are no plans to change the introduction of language and humanities Diplomas in 2011 and our recent consultation showed that employers, experts and higher education are happy with the current timetable. | England's Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "There are no plans to change the introduction of language and humanities Diplomas in 2011 and our recent consultation showed that employers, experts and higher education are happy with the current timetable. |
| "We have involved exam boards fully throughout the development of Diplomas - and have been working with them closely over the last few weeks to reassure them and address they specific concerns they have raised on Phase 4 Diplomas." | "We have involved exam boards fully throughout the development of Diplomas - and have been working with them closely over the last few weeks to reassure them and address they specific concerns they have raised on Phase 4 Diplomas." |
| 'Risk' | 'Risk' |
| The warning letter was sent by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) consists of the seven largest providers of qualifications in the UK: AQA, City & Guilds, CCEA, Edexcel, OCR, SQA and WJEC. | The warning letter was sent by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) consists of the seven largest providers of qualifications in the UK: AQA, City & Guilds, CCEA, Edexcel, OCR, SQA and WJEC. |
| According to the Sunday Telegraph, which obtained a copy, it said: "The original timescale could only be achieved if we now compromise the quality of development in the areas of assessment and standards. | According to the Sunday Telegraph, which obtained a copy, it said: "The original timescale could only be achieved if we now compromise the quality of development in the areas of assessment and standards. |
| "Under the circumstances, rather than risk the quality of these important qualifications by compressing the development into a shorter remaining period, we urge you in the strongest terms to defer implementation for a year to allow for an integrated development of content, assessment and pedagogy." | "Under the circumstances, rather than risk the quality of these important qualifications by compressing the development into a shorter remaining period, we urge you in the strongest terms to defer implementation for a year to allow for an integrated development of content, assessment and pedagogy." |
| In a statement the joint council said: "JCQ can confirm that a letter was sent to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, regarding working with the Department on the issues relating to Phase 4 Diplomas on 16 March, however, we are not prepared to discuss the content of the letter." | |
| Nor did it send a copy to the exams watchdog in England, Ofqual. | Nor did it send a copy to the exams watchdog in England, Ofqual. |
| The academic Diplomas were added to the suite of qualifications late in the day. | The academic Diplomas were added to the suite of qualifications late in the day. |
| The first Diplomas in five employment-related sectors began being taught in some schools and colleges in England only last autumn, with another five following this year. | The first Diplomas in five employment-related sectors began being taught in some schools and colleges in England only last autumn, with another five following this year. |
| Then in 2010 come the last four of these more vocational "lines of learning". | Then in 2010 come the last four of these more vocational "lines of learning". |
| But in October 2007, while development of the main group was well under way, Schools Secretary Ed Balls suddenly announced three more Diplomas in "academic" subject areas: science, languages and humanities. | But in October 2007, while development of the main group was well under way, Schools Secretary Ed Balls suddenly announced three more Diplomas in "academic" subject areas: science, languages and humanities. |
| This appeared to put Diplomas head to head with the existing academic qualifications in England, GCSEs and A-levels. | This appeared to put Diplomas head to head with the existing academic qualifications in England, GCSEs and A-levels. |
| Conservative spokesman Michael Gove accused Schools Secretary Ed Balls of "playing fast and loose with our exam and qualification system". | Conservative spokesman Michael Gove accused Schools Secretary Ed Balls of "playing fast and loose with our exam and qualification system". |