Michael Gove should stop taking the urgent pills, says NUT
Commenting on changes to A-Levels announced today by Ofqual, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:
“While there can always be modifications made to any examination system, the NUT believes that current A-Levels stand up very well when compared with qualifications internationally. Ofqual’s own research has indicated this.
“Some subjects lend themselves to modularisation; others are better taken in a linear format. Getting rid of the modular options, having just one exam at the end of the year and reducing the options for resits will most certainly impact on some students. Students may not perform well on a given day for a variety of reasons. This does not make them a failure.
“The NUT welcomes the possibility that the AS will be retained and be given equal weighting with the A-Level exam. Whilst Higher Education should have an involvement in the A-Level development, let’s not forget that it is teachers in schools and colleges who teach the students who sit these examinations. Trusting teachers, which is what Mr Gove says he is keen to do, means engaging with them on examination reform.
“The NUT is also seriously concerned that the timescale for qualification reform is far too short, leaving schools with little time to prepare for such significant changes. Michael Gove should listen to the Chair of the Select Committee for Education and ‘stop taking the urgent pills’ in making such reforms at such a pace without piloting new qualifications or considering what schools consider to be successful in the current 14-19 structure.”
END pr176-2012
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