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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| University A-level plan challenged | University A-level plan challenged |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Plans to let universities decide the content of A-level courses have been given a mixed reception by teachers and universities. | Plans to let universities decide the content of A-level courses have been given a mixed reception by teachers and universities. |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove raised concerns that A-levels were failing to stretch pupils, in a letter to Ofqual, the exam regulator for England. | Education Secretary Michael Gove raised concerns that A-levels were failing to stretch pupils, in a letter to Ofqual, the exam regulator for England. |
| Ofqual chief Glenys Stacey agreed that more involvement from universities would be "the right thing". | Ofqual chief Glenys Stacey agreed that more involvement from universities would be "the right thing". |
| But the ATL teachers' union attacked the plan as a "quick fix gimmick". | But the ATL teachers' union attacked the plan as a "quick fix gimmick". |
| The Russell Group of leading universities said they were "certainly willing to give as much time as we can into giving advice to the exam boards". | |
| But Wendy Piatt, the group's director general, cautioned: "We don't actually have much time and resource spare to spend a lot of time in reforming A levels." | |
| The letter from Mr Gove, obtained by BBC Newsnight and sent to Ofqual on Friday, suggests greater control of A-level content should be handed to universities. | The letter from Mr Gove, obtained by BBC Newsnight and sent to Ofqual on Friday, suggests greater control of A-level content should be 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. |
| It repeats a commitment made to head teachers last week that A-levels should be strengthened by the greater involvement of universities. | It repeats a commitment made to head teachers last week that A-levels should be strengthened by the greater involvement of universities. |
| These proposals, which could be implemented from September 2014, would apply to the English exam system - but exam boards also set A-levels for pupils in Wales and Northern Ireland. | These proposals, which could be implemented from September 2014, would apply to the English exam system - but exam boards also set A-levels for pupils in Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Catch-up classes | Catch-up classes |
| The proposal from Mr Gove comes as a study suggested universities wanted A-levels to be more intellectually stretching and with less spoon-feeding from teachers. | The proposal from Mr Gove 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. | 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 would continue to allow exam boards to design courses, but they would need to show that universities had been involved. | Mr Gove's proposal would continue to allow exam boards to design courses, but they would need to show that universities had been involved. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Lack of confidence | Lack of confidence |
| "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." |
| 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". | But NUT general secretary Christine Blower criticised the plans as another "top-down initiative". |
| 'Disappointed' | 'Disappointed' |
| "Yet again we see top down initiatives being brought into schools regardless of what the teaching profession may think. | "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." | "The NUT is very disappointed that Michael Gove has approached Ofqual without consulting the profession as well." |
| Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, accused the government of acting on a "whim" rather than on evidence. | Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, accused the government of acting on a "whim" rather than on evidence. |
| "Of course universities have a useful role to play in deciding what should be tested at A level, but A levels need to test more than just the ability to go to university," said Dr Bousted. | "Of course universities have a useful role to play in deciding what should be tested at A level, but A levels need to test more than just the ability to go to university," said Dr Bousted. |
| There was also caution from the leader of the private school group, the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. | 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. | "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. |
| But leading head teacher Anthony Seldon, in charge of Wellington College, warmly welcomed the proposals - and called for a more demanding approach to essay writing. | But leading head teacher Anthony Seldon, in charge of Wellington College, warmly welcomed the proposals - and called for a more demanding approach to essay writing. |
| "Much academic rigour and zest has been lost in schools over the past 25 years. Even those with A* grades know remarkably little about physics, geography or history, for example," he said. | "Much academic rigour and zest has been lost in schools over the past 25 years. Even those with A* grades know remarkably little about physics, geography or history, for example," he said. |
| 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 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". |
| And the 1994 Group challenged suggestions that it should be the Russell Group universities which were involved - saying influence should not be restricted to an "arbitrarily selected cadre". | And the 1994 Group challenged suggestions that it should be the Russell Group universities which were involved - saying influence should not be restricted to an "arbitrarily selected cadre". |
| Newsnight political editor Allegra Stratton said that Mr Gove believed: "Standards have to go up if Britain's future workforce is going to have the skills it needs to compete in the future. | Newsnight political editor Allegra Stratton said that Mr Gove believed: "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." |