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Michael Gove accused by Labour of turning back clock over exams A-level overhaul could cripple school system, say critics
(about 2 hours later)
Hundreds of schools with sixth forms in England could face big changes to exams for both 16 and 18-year-olds in 2015 after Michael Gove decided to delay much of his big A-level revamp. Critics of the government's plans to overhaul A-levels to encourage "deeper- thinking" and end the mid-way AS exams are warning that the reforms will coincide with the introduction of the new Ebacc qualification for 16-year-olds and could cripple the school system.
The education secretary says new A-level courses should now begin in autumn 2015 – though so-called "chunk sized" learning will end as planned so that this month's January exams will be the last. The education secretary, Michael Gove, announced on Wednesday the introduction of new A-levels in 2015. Leading universities will help devise the academic content of A-level, the one year AS-level will remain as an exam on its own, but not a stepping stone to a two-year A-level.
Leading universities will help devise the academic content of A-level and the AS-level remain as an exam on its own with half the content of an A-level, taken over one or two years, but not a stepping stone to a two-year A-level. The National Union of Teachers immediately warned that the move would clash with the introduction of the new Ebacc for 16-year-olds putting intolerable pressure on schools while Cambridge University published a statement stating its opposition to the combined AS exam being scrapped, saying they were crucial for identifying the most talented applicants.
Gove had hoped new A-levels could be introduced from 2014 but in a letter to the exam regulator Ofqual said he had decide to change his "ambitious" timetable because he recognised more time was needed "to develop the qualifications to the quality they deserve". Gove told MPs on the education select committee on Wednesday: "I was worried that there was too much assessment and too little learning.
Gove said last autumn that he wanted the introduction of the first Ebacc courses, the 16+ qualification that will eventually replace GCSEs, to be introduced from October 2015. But there is likely to be extra pressure on him to defer that, especially since schools may still be absorbing the consequences of the school-leaving age having been raised. All young people will have to have some form of at least part-time education or training until they are 18 from 2015. "It seemed to me that one of the most effective ways we could encourage the sort of deep thinking that we want to have in people, not just who are going on to university but who are going to be entering an increasingly testing and sophisticated world of work, was to move towards a linear A-level.
Commenting on changes to A-levels announced on Wednesday by Ofqual, Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said: "2015 looks set to be the year when everything changes in schools and for young people with both GCSEs and A-levels being replaced or altered. This is an unmanageable level of change which could lead to a collapse of the system." "But there are certain gains, of course, in the flexibility which the AS-level has given so we didn't want to completely abolish that. We thought the best way forward was a standalone qualification."
However, Gove will want the foundations for an exam system he believes more intellectually rigorous to be firmly in place so they cannot be removed if the Conservatives lose the 2015 general election. Labour changed A-levels in 2000. Under the current system, sixth-formers often sit four or five AS-levels, taking exams after one year before deciding which to drop and which to continue to A-level. Gove had hoped new A-levels could be introduced from 2014 but in a letter to the exam regulator Ofqual said he had decide to change his "ambitious" timetable because he recognised more time was needed "to develop the qualifications to the quality they deserve". The changes will be set in stone even if the Conservatives lose the next election.
The new A-levels are now likely to coincide with the introduction of the first Ebacc courses, the 16+ qualification that will eventually replace GCSEs, from October 2015.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, a critic of both the reforms and the education secretary, said: "2015 looks set to be the year when everything changes in schools and for young people with both GCSEs and A-levels being replaced or altered. This is an unmanageable level of change which could lead to a collapse of the system."
Cambridge University urged Gove to reverse his decision: "The University of Cambridge opposes the deletion of AS examinations at the end of year 12. This change is unnecessary and, if implemented, will jeopardise over a decade's progress towards fairer access to the University of Cambridge.
"AS is the most reliable indicator available of an applicant's potential to thrive at Cambridge. Using them in our admissions process has enabled us recently to achieve the highest levels of state-sector participation in the university in over 30 years."
"Year 12 results are especially useful in giving talented students from low-participation backgrounds the confidence to apply to highly selective universities."
Labour accused Gove of "turning the clock back", head teachers said they remained "unconvinced" by the reforms, and industry leaders said the government was moving too quickly to bring in reforms that lacked coherence.Labour accused Gove of "turning the clock back", head teachers said they remained "unconvinced" by the reforms, and industry leaders said the government was moving too quickly to bring in reforms that lacked coherence.
Gove's letter to Ofqual repeats his concerns that current A-levels do not always provide the foundations needed for degree-level education and vocational courses. He was worried that some universities have had to develop four-year natural science courses to make up for shortcomings, and that current exams are "unfair" because private schools "routinely teach beyond A-levels, giving their pupils an advantage in the competition for university places".
In a statement to the Commons, Gove's schools deputy, Elizabeth Truss, said: "We inherited a system in which students start A-levels in September and immediately start preparing for exams in January. Pupils spend too much time thinking about exams and resits of exams that encourage a 'learn and forget' approach to studying.In a statement to the Commons, Gove's schools deputy, Elizabeth Truss, said: "We inherited a system in which students start A-levels in September and immediately start preparing for exams in January. Pupils spend too much time thinking about exams and resits of exams that encourage a 'learn and forget' approach to studying.
"We want to end the treadmill of repeated exams that do not properly test advanced skills such as extended writing and mathematical problem-solving. We want questions that encourage students to think and prepare for university study. Not a satnav series of exams." Truss insisted the government was "stepping back" from the development of A-levels and giving universities more say."We want to end the treadmill of repeated exams that do not properly test advanced skills such as extended writing and mathematical problem-solving. We want questions that encourage students to think and prepare for university study. Not a satnav series of exams." Truss insisted the government was "stepping back" from the development of A-levels and giving universities more say.
"The way in which the Labour party repeatedly calls such skills 'old fashioned' shows how totally out of touch they are with universities and business. Do they think Silicon Valley wants people who can understand calculus and linear algebra or students who turn up saying: 'Don't worry, we can Google everything'?" "The way in which the Labour party repeatedly calls such skills 'old fashioned' shows how totally out of touch they are with universities and business. Do they think Silicon Valley wants people who can understand calculus and linear algebra or students who turn up saying: 'Don't worry, we can Google everything'?"Stephen Twigg, Labour's education spokesman, said: "Yet again Michael Gove is all about turning the clock back. This plan would narrow the options for young people."
Stephen Twigg, Labour's education spokesman, said: "Yet again Michael Gove is all about turning the clock back. This plan would narrow the options for young people."
He said there was a need for more "high-quality options" available at 16, including all young people studying maths and English until 18.He said there was a need for more "high-quality options" available at 16, including all young people studying maths and English until 18.
Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was "not convinced" by the reforms. The present A-level "was a very successful qualification" and the AS was "valued in schools as a way of broadening the curriculum".Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was "not convinced" by the reforms. The present A-level "was a very successful qualification" and the AS was "valued in schools as a way of broadening the curriculum".
Industry leaders are furious at the changes and disappointed that they will not get the same sort of input universities are getting into the new A-levels, despite Ofqual's promises that it would consult employers where appropriate.
Neil Carberry, the CBI's director of employment and skills, said: "Businesses want more rigorous exams but we're concerned that these changes aren't being linked up with other reforms, especially to GCSEs.
"We need a more coherent overall system. That means one with higher expectations, stronger technical education, English and maths compulsory until 18, and new demanding, vocational A-levels, as well as in more traditional subjects.
"Scrapping modules and removing AS-levels will go some way to ending the exam treadmill but we are concerned that universities will have sole oversight of the new qualifications. A-levels are no longer simply a passport to a degree but also secure entry to higher apprenticeships and other 'learn while you earn' jobs."
Meanwhile, the Russell group of 24 leading universities has set out the list of subject areas to be considered by its new advisory body on A-levels. These will cover the exams most often demanded for entry to university: mathematics and further mathematics, English literature, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and modern and classical languages.Meanwhile, the Russell group of 24 leading universities has set out the list of subject areas to be considered by its new advisory body on A-levels. These will cover the exams most often demanded for entry to university: mathematics and further mathematics, English literature, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and modern and classical languages.