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GCSEs: New-look tougher exams revealed GCSEs: New-look tougher exams revealed
(35 minutes later)
New-look GCSEs for schools in England are being unveiled, with exams graded from eight to one rather than A* to G.New-look GCSEs for schools in England are being unveiled, with exams graded from eight to one rather than A* to G.
From 2015, GCSEs will move from coursework and continuous assessment to exams at the end of two years.From 2015, GCSEs will move from coursework and continuous assessment to exams at the end of two years.
Pupils will face more rigorous content, with those studying English, for example, having to read a 19th-Century novel and a whole Shakespeare play.Pupils will face more rigorous content, with those studying English, for example, having to read a 19th-Century novel and a whole Shakespeare play.
Labour's Stephen Twigg accused the government of creating "uncertainty" for pupils and parents.Labour's Stephen Twigg accused the government of creating "uncertainty" for pupils and parents.
Wales and Northern Ireland are keeping GCSEs, but so far are not adopting the changes proposed for England.Wales and Northern Ireland are keeping GCSEs, but so far are not adopting the changes proposed for England.
There is no sign of a change in name to I-level for the English exams - as had been suggested. But the format is likely to be familiar to anyone who once took O-levels.There is no sign of a change in name to I-level for the English exams - as had been suggested. But the format is likely to be familiar to anyone who once took O-levels.
Key changes from autumn 2015Key changes from autumn 2015
The changes to GCSEs in England are being presented on Tuesday in two reports. Exam regulator Ofqual will explain how the exams will be structured and ministers have given details of the course content.The changes to GCSEs in England are being presented on Tuesday in two reports. Exam regulator Ofqual will explain how the exams will be structured and ministers have given details of the course content.
The reforms will initially apply to a group of core subjects - English language and literature, maths, physics, chemistry, biology, combined science, history and geography.The reforms will initially apply to a group of core subjects - English language and literature, maths, physics, chemistry, biology, combined science, history and geography.
'Whole books''Whole books'
Hundreds of thousands of pupils will begin studying these revised GCSEs from autumn 2015 and the first candidates to take the exams will be in summer 2017.Hundreds of thousands of pupils will begin studying these revised GCSEs from autumn 2015 and the first candidates to take the exams will be in summer 2017.
Apart from exceptions such as practical experiments in science, there will be a strong push towards exams being taken at the end of two years, rather than in individual units during the course. Apart from exceptions such as practical experiments in science, there will be a strong push towards the results depending fully on exams taken at the end of two years. It will mean removing the 25% of marks in history, English literature and geography that are for controlled assessments.
Grading will be by numbers rather than letters - with eight at the top and one at the bottom. The pass mark will be pushed higher, with claims that it will be pitched at the level of the highest-performing school systems, such as Finland and Shanghai, which have topped international rankings.Grading will be by numbers rather than letters - with eight at the top and one at the bottom. The pass mark will be pushed higher, with claims that it will be pitched at the level of the highest-performing school systems, such as Finland and Shanghai, which have topped international rankings.
The new GCSEs will push for a more stretching, essay-based exam system, reminiscent of O-levels, taken by pupils until the late 1980s.The new GCSEs will push for a more stretching, essay-based exam system, reminiscent of O-levels, taken by pupils until the late 1980s.
In history there will be more essays and fewer short-form questions, and the removal of a controlled assessment. History will require a substantial study of British history - with an option for this to be the history of England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland. Pupils will have to write an in-depth study of a 25 to 50 year period within a range of eras stretching from 500AD to the present day.
In English, responding to concerns that pupils were only reading chunks of books, the exam questions will be designed to ensure that pupils have read the full work. There will be a less prominent world history section, which will also require an in-depth study of a different 25 to 50 year period. And a third element will ask pupils to study a theme such as changes in politics, religion or culture across the medieval, early modern and modern eras.
In English literature, responding to concerns that pupils were only reading chunks of books, the exam questions will be designed to ensure that pupils have read the full work.
The course content will include at least one play by Shakespeare, a selection of work by the Romantic poets, a 19th Century novel, a selection of poetry since 1850 and a 20th Century novel or drama.The course content will include at least one play by Shakespeare, a selection of work by the Romantic poets, a 19th Century novel, a selection of poetry since 1850 and a 20th Century novel or drama.
For both English language and literature, digital texts are excluded.
Maths will promote the idea of developing independent problem-solving skills, rather than setting types of questions that can be rehearsed.Maths will promote the idea of developing independent problem-solving skills, rather than setting types of questions that can be rehearsed.
This is the latest stage in Education Secretary Michael Gove's drive to reconfigure the exam system.
Education Minister Elizabeth Truss said: "We are taking steps with the existing exams to make them as good as possible.Education Minister Elizabeth Truss said: "We are taking steps with the existing exams to make them as good as possible.
"But we do need to start competing against those top performing countries in the world because for too long we've pretended that students results are getting better when all that's been happening is the exams have been getting easier and it's been a race to the bottom between the exam boards and we need to stop that happening now.""But we do need to start competing against those top performing countries in the world because for too long we've pretended that students results are getting better when all that's been happening is the exams have been getting easier and it's been a race to the bottom between the exam boards and we need to stop that happening now."
'Culture of resits''Culture of resits'
Conservative MP and former schools minister Nick Gibb said the changes would end the "culture of resits" in which pupils were "taking exam after exam to bank grades". This is the latest stage in Education Secretary Michael Gove's drive to reconfigure the exam system.
Mr Gibb said the changes were being made to "eliminate grade inflation" and would create a new focus on essay writing.
"It has to happen. There's been concern for many years about grade inflation in the GCSE exam and with the proliferation of resits and modular exams in GCSEs there's been a real concern about standards.
"It's a concern shared right across the political spectrum."
Last year, Mr Gove announced plans for the scrapping of GCSEs and their replacement with English Baccalaureate Certificates, with each subject to be set by a single exam board.Last year, Mr Gove announced plans for the scrapping of GCSEs and their replacement with English Baccalaureate Certificates, with each subject to be set by a single exam board.
This re-branding was scrapped, with GCSEs to be retained but reformed instead.This re-branding was scrapped, with GCSEs to be retained but reformed instead.
Christine Blower, head of the NUT, said the the government's approach was "rushed".Christine Blower, head of the NUT, said the the government's approach was "rushed".
"If you did this by consensus, by actually talking to the profession and understanding how best to examine things, we would be in a much better position than this highly-politicised approach that the current government has."If you did this by consensus, by actually talking to the profession and understanding how best to examine things, we would be in a much better position than this highly-politicised approach that the current government has.
"We all want children and young people to be extraordinarily well taught and to do the very best that they can but you don't just do that by, in a rapid way, changing the whole basis of the system.""We all want children and young people to be extraordinarily well taught and to do the very best that they can but you don't just do that by, in a rapid way, changing the whole basis of the system."
Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, attacked the government's claim that the GCSE was a "broken qualification" and said it had "proved itself to be a robust and reliable qualification".Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, attacked the government's claim that the GCSE was a "broken qualification" and said it had "proved itself to be a robust and reliable qualification".
She accused the government of driving an "inaccurate and ideologically-driven media attack on the qualification".She accused the government of driving an "inaccurate and ideologically-driven media attack on the qualification".
The latest plans will be put out to consultation over the summer, with a timetable that will see exam boards producing courses that can be accredited by Ofqual to be taught from autumn 2015.The latest plans will be put out to consultation over the summer, with a timetable that will see exam boards producing courses that can be accredited by Ofqual to be taught from autumn 2015.
These changes are for exams in England. The prospect of different forms of GCSEs in Wales and Northern Ireland has raised the question of how they will be distinguished from each other.These changes are for exams in England. The prospect of different forms of GCSEs in Wales and Northern Ireland has raised the question of how they will be distinguished from each other.
It had been suggested that in England the exam could be re-branded as I-levels, but this is not expected to be adopted and it is believed that so far no name change has been decided.It had been suggested that in England the exam could be re-branded as I-levels, but this is not expected to be adopted and it is believed that so far no name change has been decided.
'Uncertainty''Uncertainty'
Meanwhile, MPs on the Commons Education Select Committee warned the plans showed relations between ministers in England and Wales were "clearly under strain", and called for the continuation of "three-country qualifications and regulation".Meanwhile, MPs on the Commons Education Select Committee warned the plans showed relations between ministers in England and Wales were "clearly under strain", and called for the continuation of "three-country qualifications and regulation".
Chairman Graham Stuart said members were "concerned that there is a rush towards separate exam systems for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, without careful reflection on what might be lost, or consensus that this is the right thing to do".Chairman Graham Stuart said members were "concerned that there is a rush towards separate exam systems for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, without careful reflection on what might be lost, or consensus that this is the right thing to do".
The education select committee has published a report on the controversial results of last summer's GCSE English results, which ended in a legal challenge.The education select committee has published a report on the controversial results of last summer's GCSE English results, which ended in a legal challenge.
It concluded that the "poor design" of the modular exam was the underlying cause of the problems.It concluded that the "poor design" of the modular exam was the underlying cause of the problems.
But there was a warning of the risks of introducing too many changes when working to a "tight timetable".But there was a warning of the risks of introducing too many changes when working to a "tight timetable".
Brian Lightman, leader of ASCL, also warned of the risks of hurried implementation of new exams. "There must be time built in to plan, test and implement new qualifications properly," he said.Brian Lightman, leader of ASCL, also warned of the risks of hurried implementation of new exams. "There must be time built in to plan, test and implement new qualifications properly," he said.
"A rushed implementation that ignores the views of teachers and experts will do nothing to build public trust.""A rushed implementation that ignores the views of teachers and experts will do nothing to build public trust."
Labour's shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg attacked the proposed changes for GCSEs.Labour's shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg attacked the proposed changes for GCSEs.
"Pupils and parents will be concerned by the uncertainty that Michael Gove has created around GCSEs. Having first talked down their value and then failed in his attempt to scrap them, the education secretary is having another go at setting out his plans.""Pupils and parents will be concerned by the uncertainty that Michael Gove has created around GCSEs. Having first talked down their value and then failed in his attempt to scrap them, the education secretary is having another go at setting out his plans."
"We need changes to assessments in schools that will strengthen rigour and reflect the best ways of testing skills and knowledge. Encouraging more shallow learning of facts alone will not help young people to be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow," said Mr Twigg."We need changes to assessments in schools that will strengthen rigour and reflect the best ways of testing skills and knowledge. Encouraging more shallow learning of facts alone will not help young people to be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow," said Mr Twigg.