NASUWT: Ofqual A level reform consultation without evidence
Responding to the announcement of changes to A-levels by Ofqual, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, said:
“There is nothing in Ofqual’s findings which provides any real hard evidence to prove that the wholesale reform of A-levels is necessary or advantageous.
“These plans are not based, as Michael Gove continues to claim, on any concern in the higher education sector of failings in the A-level system, nor on any international data, all of which shows that A-levels continue to perform well against other comparable qualifications globally.
“The only pressure that is being exerted for reform is based on the ideological agenda of the Secretary of State for Education who is seemingly determined to reduce the A-level to an elite university entrance exam, rather than a qualification which supports and prepares all young people to make the most of their future.
“Reducing the opportunity for young people to undertake re-sits will seriously disadvantage students who, for whatever reason, are not able to demonstrate their abilities on one particular day at one particular time and is completely out of keeping with the ethos of an education system which should support learners to achieve their best.
“Incontrovertible evidence of the need to reform A-levels has been completely absent in this debate, yet schools, colleges, teachers and most importantly, learners are facing huge turbulence and uncertainty.
“Rather than whipping up a false hysteria to justify his ideological reforms, the Secretary of State should be focusing on the wealth of evidence highlighting the need to review the high stakes, punitive inspection regime and the performance league tables which are preventing schools from focusing on the teaching and learning of young people.”
ENDS
Lena Davies
Press and Media Officer
Campaigns and Communications Team
NASUWT
0121 457 6250 / 07867 392 746
lena.davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
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