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University A-level plan challenged | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Plans to let universities decide the content of A-level courses have been given a mixed reception by teachers and universities. | |
The education secretary raised concerns current exams were failing to properly prepare students in a letter to Ofqual. | The education secretary raised concerns current exams were failing to properly prepare students in a letter to Ofqual. |
Ofqual head Glenys Stacey said the move - for English exam boards, whose papers are also taken in Northern Ireland and Wales - was "the right thing". | |
But the NUT teachers' union criticised the lack of consultation with teachers. | |
The Million+ group of universities accused education ministers of "ignoring advice" from higher education and said changes to A-levels were a "much more complex task than simply getting a few academics together". | |
The letter from Education Secretary Michael Gove, obtained by BBC Newsnight and sent to Ofqual on Friday, suggests control of A-level content should be taken away from exam boards and handed to universities. | |
"It is important that this rolling back allows universities… to drive the system," he writes. | "It is important that this rolling back allows universities… to drive the system," he writes. |
Catch-up classes | Catch-up classes |
It comes as a study suggested universities wanted A-levels to be more intellectually stretching and with less spoon-feeding from teachers. | It comes as a study suggested universities wanted A-levels to be more intellectually stretching and with less spoon-feeding from teachers. |
Cambridge Assessment, which runs the OCR exam board, found many lecturers believed students arrived unprepared for degree-level work, with three-in-five lecturers saying that their institutions had to run catch-up classes. | |
Mr Gove's proposal could mean that exam boards set courses but that the content and assessment would be shaped by university academics. | |
He has asked Ofqual to oversee the new regime: "I will expect the bar to be a high one: university ownership of the exams must be real and committed, not a tick-box exercise." | He has asked Ofqual to oversee the new regime: "I will expect the bar to be a high one: university ownership of the exams must be real and committed, not a tick-box exercise." |
Mr Gove says the Department for Education should withdraw from developing A-levels. | |
"It is more important that universities are satisfied that A-levels enable young people to start their undergraduate degrees having gained the right knowledge and skills, than that ministers are able to influence content or methods of assessment," he wrote. | "It is more important that universities are satisfied that A-levels enable young people to start their undergraduate degrees having gained the right knowledge and skills, than that ministers are able to influence content or methods of assessment," he wrote. |
"I am particularly keen that universities should be able to determine subject content, and that they should endorse specifications, including details of how the subject should be assessed." | "I am particularly keen that universities should be able to determine subject content, and that they should endorse specifications, including details of how the subject should be assessed." |
'Critical thinking' | 'Critical thinking' |
While his letter suggests current A-levels "have much to commend them", he says they "fall short of commanding the level of confidence". | While his letter suggests current A-levels "have much to commend them", he says they "fall short of commanding the level of confidence". |
"Leading university academics tell me that A-levels do not prepare students well enough for the demands of an undergraduate degree," he wrote. | "Leading university academics tell me that A-levels do not prepare students well enough for the demands of an undergraduate degree," he wrote. |
Mrs Stacey said Ofqual has been in talks with the government about the issue for some time. | Mrs Stacey said Ofqual has been in talks with the government about the issue for some time. |
"Getting universities more involved is the right thing to do for young people," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "Getting universities more involved is the right thing to do for young people," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
"Our job is to make sure qualifications pass muster... we can do it better if you involve universities in the design of A-levels." | "Our job is to make sure qualifications pass muster... we can do it better if you involve universities in the design of A-levels." |
But NUT general secretary Christine Blower criticised the plans as another "top-down initiative". | |
"Yet again we see top down initiatives being brought into schools regardless of what the teaching profession may think. | |
"The NUT is very disappointed that Michael Gove has approached Ofqual without consulting the profession as well." | |
There was also caution from the leader of the private school group, the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. | |
"Michael Gove is right to want university input into the much-needed review of A levels, but it would be most unwise to give universities total control," said Peter Hamilton, chairman of the group's academic policy committee. | |
'Grade deflation' | 'Grade deflation' |
Newsnight political editor Allegra Stratton said the changes would be likely to prompt the toughening of pre-16 and primary education, with announcements expected in the coming months. | Newsnight political editor Allegra Stratton said the changes would be likely to prompt the toughening of pre-16 and primary education, with announcements expected in the coming months. |
"Expect the same principle to be applied to GCSEs, maybe in a more extreme form," she said. | "Expect the same principle to be applied to GCSEs, maybe in a more extreme form," she said. |
In Mr Gove's view, she added: "Standards have to go up if Britain's future workforce is going to have the skills it needs to compete in the future. | In Mr Gove's view, she added: "Standards have to go up if Britain's future workforce is going to have the skills it needs to compete in the future. |
"This will mean an era of grade deflation, fewer students will get the top marks." | "This will mean an era of grade deflation, fewer students will get the top marks." |
Mr Gove has indicated he wants all of this to "make rapid progress", meaning A-levels could get harder for pupils as early as 2016. | Mr Gove has indicated he wants all of this to "make rapid progress", meaning A-levels could get harder for pupils as early as 2016. |