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| Maths GCSE coursework is dropped | Maths GCSE coursework is dropped |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Coursework for GCSE mathematics is to be axed, the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced. | Coursework for GCSE mathematics is to be axed, the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced. |
| All other GCSE coursework will have to be supervised, Mr Johnson told delegates at the Labour party conference on Wednesday. | All other GCSE coursework will have to be supervised, Mr Johnson told delegates at the Labour party conference on Wednesday. |
| He said qualifications could not be undermined by the few who cheated by taking their work from the internet. | He said qualifications could not be undermined by the few who cheated by taking their work from the internet. |
| Parents needed to be reassured that coursework assessed pupils' work in a "fair and robust way". | Parents needed to be reassured that coursework assessed pupils' work in a "fair and robust way". |
| Mr Johnson said: "Last year, we asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to look at making GCSE coursework more robust and reliable. | Mr Johnson said: "Last year, we asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to look at making GCSE coursework more robust and reliable. |
| "As a result of the QCA's report, we will be removing all GCSE coursework from maths and stipulating that in other subjects, coursework must be supervised in classroom style conditions. | "As a result of the QCA's report, we will be removing all GCSE coursework from maths and stipulating that in other subjects, coursework must be supervised in classroom style conditions. |
| "Coursework can be very beneficial and I am determined that the hard work of the vast majority of students should not be undermined by questions of validity. | "Coursework can be very beneficial and I am determined that the hard work of the vast majority of students should not be undermined by questions of validity. |
| "We will work closely with teachers to develop even more effective and reliable coursework assessments." | "We will work closely with teachers to develop even more effective and reliable coursework assessments." |
| Union praise | Union praise |
| The move was welcomed by the National Union of Teachers. | The move was welcomed by the National Union of Teachers. |
| "We welcome the removal of unnecessary coursework," said general secretary Steve Sinnott. | "We welcome the removal of unnecessary coursework," said general secretary Steve Sinnott. |
| "There are some subjects for which it is totally inappropriate. I hope however that coursework is retained for subjects such as the arts, geography and history." | "There are some subjects for which it is totally inappropriate. I hope however that coursework is retained for subjects such as the arts, geography and history." |
| The teachers' union, the NASUWT, said it would "examine very carefully the proposals on coursework", but was sure supervised coursework would address problems of plagiarism. | |
| The Association of School and College Leaders also praised the announcement. | |
| "In the age of the internet plagiarism represents a real problem and it is right that the regulations on carrying out coursework recognise this," said general secretary Dr John Dunford. | |
| Last week, it was announced that the coursework component in geography A-level would be scrapped. | Last week, it was announced that the coursework component in geography A-level would be scrapped. |
| In most subjects, the number of coursework study units will be reduced from six to four, two at AS-level and two at A2. | In most subjects, the number of coursework study units will be reduced from six to four, two at AS-level and two at A2. |
| New "subject criteria" for the 2008 A-level exams were published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) following a consultation which produced some 3,200 responses. | New "subject criteria" for the 2008 A-level exams were published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) following a consultation which produced some 3,200 responses. |
| Children in care | Children in care |
| Mr Johnson also outlined new measures to improve support for children in care and their education. | Mr Johnson also outlined new measures to improve support for children in care and their education. |
| The minister said these children were five times less likely to pass their GCSEs and 25 times more likely to "wind up in prison". | The minister said these children were five times less likely to pass their GCSEs and 25 times more likely to "wind up in prison". |
| He said an extra £100 a year would be put into their Child Trust Fund accounts for every full year they spent in care. | He said an extra £100 a year would be put into their Child Trust Fund accounts for every full year they spent in care. |
| And a £2,000 bursary would help children in care go to university. | And a £2,000 bursary would help children in care go to university. |