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An examination board has mentioned that English college students take too many exams whereas calling for a change to GCSEs.
It comes as a warning was issued that the nation has turn out to be a nation hooked on exams.
The present quantity and depth of exams at GCSE is “too excessive”, mentioned examination board OCR, which discovered college students in England are spending round 31.5 hours taking exams.
OCR, considered one of England, Wales and Northern Eire’s 5 essential examination boards, is arguing for a “rebalancing evaluation away from a sole reliance on exams at 16”, in addition to an up to date curriculum, and the creation of an unbiased physique chargeable for conserving it related.
Jill Duffy, chief govt of OCR, mentioned: “No-one expects an examination board to say there are too many exams.
“Established exams have huge strengths. However you may have an excessive amount of of an excellent factor over a brief interval.
“As this report makes clear, it’s potential to rebalance evaluation at GCSE with out sacrificing rigour and requirements.
“A extra related and enriched curriculum would give more room for deeper studying, higher making ready our kids for an extremely complicated world.”
Former schooling secretary Charles Clarke, who chaired the report, mentioned: “Too many youngsters are rising at 16 with out the essential expertise they should navigate a quickly altering world.
“There isn’t any ‘silver bullet’ to unravel the challenges going through schooling, however there’s an pressing want for reform.
“The reasonable, daring reforms set out on this report would give younger folks each alternative to fulfil their ambitions and potential.
“Many lecturers we consulted felt that this kind of change would give them the time and house to do the kind of instructing they joined the occupation for.”
Former College Problem contestant Bobby Seagull mentioned: “Whereas exams are clearly necessary milestones, our younger folks want a extra holistic schooling that provides everybody the prospect to completely utilise their 5 years at secondary fairly than simply deal with exams at 16.”
The maths instructor continued: “A lot of my life’s work is about displaying how maths isn’t a chore – it will possibly and needs to be each gratifying and interesting.
“What I like in regards to the suggestions on this report is they might assist construct an schooling system that conjures up and engages younger folks to unlock their potential.”
The report comes as Schooling Secretary Bridget Phillipson has commissioned a Authorities evaluate into curriculum and evaluation, chaired by Professor Becky Francis.
The OCR evaluate relies on extensive session with stakeholders, together with greater than 2,000 college students and lecturers.
Pepe Di’Iasio, basic secretary of the Affiliation of College and School Leaders (ASCL), mentioned: “We’ve got turn out to be a nation that’s hooked on exams, and this report resonates with many considerations raised by faculty and school leaders.
“The extreme quantity and depth of GCSEs, as reformed by the final authorities, is totally pointless for the aim of aiding development.
“It creates vital examination nervousness amongst college students, with a detrimental affect on their psychological well being, and is especially difficult for these with extra wants.
“OCR’s proposals to cut back the size, quantity and content material of assessments, and to reform GCSE English and maths, are spot on.”
Daniel Kebede, basic secretary of the Nationwide Schooling Union (NEU), mentioned: “The OCR’s report is additional proof of a breadth of consensus throughout the sector that our examination system isn’t match for goal.
“NEU members have reported since their introduction that reformed GCSEs are far too overloaded with content material. That is to the detriment of deep, significant studying, the workload of lecturers and the wellbeing of scholars.”
He added: “Given the OCR’s intervention, in addition to the forthcoming Authorities evaluate, it’s ever clearer that every one within the sector are crying out for change.
“The aim is a system of curriculum and evaluation which is broader, extra numerous, extra inclusive and match for the longer term.”
A Division for Schooling spokesperson mentioned: “Excessive and rising requirements are on the coronary heart of the Authorities’s mission to interrupt down the boundaries to alternative and provides each baby one of the best begin.
“The curriculum and evaluation evaluate will carry collectively main schooling consultants, leaders and workers, to think about how to make sure younger folks get the chance to entry a broad and balanced curriculum, in addition to the essential work and life expertise obligatory to achieve each the office and all through their lives.
“It’s going to additionally work to ship a system that balances completely different evaluation strategies alongside the significance of exams, to seize the energy of each baby and younger particular person.”
