NASUWT: GCSE English controversy highlights pernicious impact of school accountability regime
The ongoing controversy about the grading of GCSE English this summer highlights the pernicious impact of the current school and college accountability regime, the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, has told the TUC Congress in Brighton.
While it is important for the sake of all pupils concerned that any failings in the arrangements for the delivery of GCSE English are investigated and addressed, the Union warned delegates at Congress that the damaging effect of the Coalition Government’s regressive and ill-informed education policies must not be forgotten as this debate continues.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“For the sake of the pupils concerned, everyone wants to see a robust and objective investigation of the facts behind the current GCSE controversy.
“However, feedback from NASUWT members on this issue has emphasised that much of the concern within the education system is driven by the pressure school leaders and teachers are under to meet the crude performance targets imposed on them by the Department for Education and Ofsted.
“Secondary schools remain all too aware that any failure to meet the Coalition Government’s floor target will place them at serious risk of being forced to become an academy, regardless of the lack of evidence that foisting academy status on schools raises educational standards.
“There should be no doubt that the existence of this damaging accountability regime has nothing to do with helping schools and colleges to meet the needs of learners, but instead is simply a means by which its ideological policies can be pursued.
“No other country, including those widely recognised as high performing, subjects its schools to such a destructive and regressive system of public accountability. The GCSE English controversy provides yet more evidence that the simplistic and punitive accountability regime in this country is no longer fit for purpose.”
Brian Cookson, NASUWT Honorary Treasurer, addressed Congress and said:
“The role of Ofqual and the awarding bodies is to ensure the maintenance of standards and any interference in this spells the death knell of a system that fairly and transparently accredits the work of students.
“Confidence must be restored quickly and effectively. The debate must not fuel the Secretary of State’s damaging intentions.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The full text of the motion is below:
Emergency motion
GCSEs
Congress is appalled at the treatment young people who sat GCSE English this summer have received from Ofqual and the government.
Since GCSEs were introduced, teachers and students have worked hard to achieve a steady and increasing success rate.
This summer has seen the first fall in the numbers achieving A*-C grades. This has coincided with Michael Gove, precipitately and without consultation, moving the arbitrarily determined floor targets from 35 per cent to 40 per cent. This is the level below which the Secretary of State will seek to force a school to become an academy.
Congress condemns the consequences of the changes in grade boundaries resulting in thousands of students receiving a D rather than the C they expected. As a result, many have lost college places or apprenticeships and may be left without access to education or training.
Congress echoes the views of many teachers and head teachers who have described this as morally indefensible.
Congress notes the contradiction in the requirement placed on schools to achieve 40 per cent A*-C grades and Ofqual’s stated intention of ‘stabilising’ the number of C grades. Congress condemns the fact that this must mean that schools can only ‘improve’ their results, if results in other schools fall.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
i. work with parents and students to press for an objective, robust and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the GCSE English examinations this summer, and its impact;
ii. campaign for students to be graded fairly.
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