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| Maths GCSE coursework is dropped | Maths GCSE coursework is dropped |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Coursework for GCSE mathematics is to be axed in England, the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced. | Coursework for GCSE mathematics is to be axed in England, the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced. |
| All other GCSE coursework would have to be supervised, Mr Johnson told the Labour party conference on Wednesday. Wales is to follow the same course. | All other GCSE coursework would have to be supervised, Mr Johnson told the Labour party conference on Wednesday. Wales is to follow the same course. |
| Mr Johnson said qualifications could not be undermined by a few cheats who took 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". |
| Coursework - or work done outside normal classroom conditions - was introduced when GCSEs replaced O-levels almost 20 years ago. | Coursework - or work done outside normal classroom conditions - was introduced when GCSEs replaced O-levels almost 20 years ago. |
| I hope that coursework is retained for subjects such as the arts, geography and history Steve Sinnott National Union of Teachers | I hope that coursework is retained for subjects such as the arts, geography and history Steve Sinnott National Union of Teachers |
| But there has long been a problem over its use, with concerns about whether work done outside school is always entirely the student's own efforts. | But there has long been a problem over its use, with concerns about whether work done outside school is always entirely the student's own efforts. |
| And the growth of model answers on the internet has increased concerns. | And the growth of model answers on the internet has increased concerns. |
| In many subjects, coursework is typically worth between 25% and 40% of marks. | In many subjects, coursework is typically worth between 25% and 40% of marks. |
| Coursework is generally popular with teachers, who argue it allows pupils to show a wider range of skills and knowledge than traditional, timed exams. | Coursework is generally popular with teachers, who argue it allows pupils to show a wider range of skills and knowledge than traditional, timed exams. |
| 'Robust and reliable' | 'Robust and reliable' |
| In his speech to the Labour Party conference, Mr Johnson said: "Last year, we asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to look at making GCSE coursework more robust and reliable. | In his speech to the Labour Party conference, 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 is typically worth between 25% and 40% of marks | Coursework is typically worth between 25% and 40% of marks |
| "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." |
| In Wales, Education Minister Jane Davidson said she shared his concern. | In Wales, Education Minister Jane Davidson said she shared his concern. |
| "I shall ask my officials to work closely with teachers in Wales to ensure that these developments are taken forward in ways that are manageable for teachers and their pupils." | "I shall ask my officials to work closely with teachers in Wales to ensure that these developments are taken forward in ways that are manageable for teachers and their pupils." |
| 'Knee-jerk' | 'Knee-jerk' |
| Shadow education secretary David Willetts said Mr Johnson needed to go further in cracking down on the use of coursework in other subjects where it was open to abuse. | Shadow education secretary David Willetts said Mr Johnson needed to go further in cracking down on the use of coursework in other subjects where it was open to abuse. |
| Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman, Sarah Teather, said: "We have to be careful not to disadvantage those students who don't perform well in the exam hall environment. | Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman, Sarah Teather, said: "We have to be careful not to disadvantage those students who don't perform well in the exam hall environment. |
| "We mustn't simply have a knee-jerk reaction against coursework." | "We mustn't simply have a knee-jerk reaction against coursework." |
| Unions cautious | Unions cautious |
| National Union of Teachers general secretary Steve Sinnott said: "We welcome the removal of unnecessary coursework. | National Union of Teachers general secretary Steve Sinnott said: "We welcome the removal of unnecessary coursework. |
| "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 NASUWT teachers' union said it would examine the proposals very carefully but was sure supervised coursework would address problems of plagiarism. | The NASUWT teachers' union said it would examine the proposals very carefully but was sure supervised coursework would address problems of plagiarism. |
| The Association of School and College Leaders praised the announcement. | The Association of School and College Leaders 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. | "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, although in English it could be a greater amount than now, and it has been made compulsory for the first time in history. | Last week, it was announced that the coursework component in geography A-level would be scrapped, although in English it could be a greater amount than now, and it has been made compulsory for the first time in history. |
| 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. |
| 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. |