This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20266533
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| A-level overhaul: Cap on resits and shift to summer-only exams | A-level overhaul: Cap on resits and shift to summer-only exams |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News | By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News |
| England's exams watchdog Ofqual has announced a shift to summer-only exams and a cap on resits for A-level students in England. | England's exams watchdog Ofqual has announced a shift to summer-only exams and a cap on resits for A-level students in England. |
| They are the first of what are expected to be widespread changes to the exams taken by 18-year-olds. | They are the first of what are expected to be widespread changes to the exams taken by 18-year-olds. |
| The watchdog has published the results of a consultation on proposed changes. | The watchdog has published the results of a consultation on proposed changes. |
| Teachers have criticised the plans, saying there is no evidence that A-levels need changing and that schools and pupils face "huge turbulence". | Teachers have criticised the plans, saying there is no evidence that A-levels need changing and that schools and pupils face "huge turbulence". |
| Head teachers and others say they support the end of the January exams. | Head teachers and others say they support the end of the January exams. |
| The government believes there are "serious problems" with the exams, that they do not prepare pupils properly for university and that the fact that they are taken "in chunks" over two years, with resits, has led to "grade inflation". | |
| It favours the idea of exams being taken at the end of two years of study and wants more input from universities. | |
| There were concerns that an emphasis on frequent exams meant students could not study a subject in enough depth. | |
| Universities have said they broadly support the "thrust" of Friday's announcement, but do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications. | Universities have said they broadly support the "thrust" of Friday's announcement, but do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications. |
| A-levels are currently made up of AS-levels (taken in students' first year of study) and exams taken in the second year, known as A2s. Papers are taken in January and June. | |
| Ofqual canvassed opinion on proposals, which included some to scrap AS-levels, bring in new A-level courses in 2014 in some "priority subjects", with other courses introduced later and for universities to be more involved with their design. | Ofqual canvassed opinion on proposals, which included some to scrap AS-levels, bring in new A-level courses in 2014 in some "priority subjects", with other courses introduced later and for universities to be more involved with their design. |
| It says there was "strong support" for the keeping of AS-levels as part of the A-level - and that any decision on their future would be one for ministers. | It says there was "strong support" for the keeping of AS-levels as part of the A-level - and that any decision on their future would be one for ministers. |
| It describes its announcement as "the first phase of proposed wider A-level reforms". | It describes its announcement as "the first phase of proposed wider A-level reforms". |
| A key change is that pupils will be limited to one resit of each exam - the following June. | A key change is that pupils will be limited to one resit of each exam - the following June. |
| The scrapping of January exams and the limit on resits come in from September 2013, but they will affect students who began their A-level studies this September. They will not have January exams in their second year as expected. | The scrapping of January exams and the limit on resits come in from September 2013, but they will affect students who began their A-level studies this September. They will not have January exams in their second year as expected. |
| The watchdog said there had been concerns that allowing repeated resits was leading to "grade-inflation" and over-burdening schools. | The watchdog said there had been concerns that allowing repeated resits was leading to "grade-inflation" and over-burdening schools. |
| 'Largely fit-for-purpose' | 'Largely fit-for-purpose' |
| The body's chief regulator, Glenys Stacey, said: "Earlier this year we set out our proposals for A-level reform. The results show that respondents are very supportive of the proposals we outlined to remove the January assessments. Our consultation also demonstrated broad support for our proposals regarding more involvement from higher education. | The body's chief regulator, Glenys Stacey, said: "Earlier this year we set out our proposals for A-level reform. The results show that respondents are very supportive of the proposals we outlined to remove the January assessments. Our consultation also demonstrated broad support for our proposals regarding more involvement from higher education. |
| "The consultation followed on from Ofqual's research into perceptions of A-levels. This showed that the qualifications are considered to be largely fit-for-purpose but that there were some structural changes that could be made to improve them." | "The consultation followed on from Ofqual's research into perceptions of A-levels. This showed that the qualifications are considered to be largely fit-for-purpose but that there were some structural changes that could be made to improve them." |
| The watchdog said key findings from the consultation showed support for exams only being taken at the end of the first and second years of study; for reduced "internal assessment" (course work) and for fewer resit opportunities. | The watchdog said key findings from the consultation showed support for exams only being taken at the end of the first and second years of study; for reduced "internal assessment" (course work) and for fewer resit opportunities. |
| It says there was support for the idea of universities being involved with the design of A-levels - "but less support for universities endorsing each A-level". | It says there was support for the idea of universities being involved with the design of A-levels - "but less support for universities endorsing each A-level". |
| Universities are already involved with the design of the exams, sitting on expert panels drawn up by exam boards. | Universities are already involved with the design of the exams, sitting on expert panels drawn up by exam boards. |
| Head teachers represented by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) back the ending of the January exams. | Head teachers represented by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) back the ending of the January exams. |
| And they say they are pleased "to see strong consensus that in the main A-levels are fit for purpose" and support for keeping the AS-level. | And they say they are pleased "to see strong consensus that in the main A-levels are fit for purpose" and support for keeping the AS-level. |
| "A-levels are a well known and well respected international brand and it would be foolish to damage confidence in them for no compelling reason," said ASCL leader Brian Lightman. | "A-levels are a well known and well respected international brand and it would be foolish to damage confidence in them for no compelling reason," said ASCL leader Brian Lightman. |
| 'Huge turbulence' | 'Huge turbulence' |
| Chris Keates, the head of the NASUWT teachers' union, said Ofqual had shown no hard evidence that the wholesale change of A-levels was needed and that teachers and students would now face "huge turbulence and uncertainty". | Chris Keates, the head of the NASUWT teachers' union, said Ofqual had shown no hard evidence that the wholesale change of A-levels was needed and that teachers and students would now face "huge turbulence and uncertainty". |
| Reducing resit opportunities would disadvantage pupils and the government seemed determined "to reduce the A-level to an elite university entrance exam" rather than a qualification for all young people, she added. | Reducing resit opportunities would disadvantage pupils and the government seemed determined "to reduce the A-level to an elite university entrance exam" rather than a qualification for all young people, she added. |
| Exam boards are questioning the timescale for changes. | Exam boards are questioning the timescale for changes. |
| Andrew Hall, head of the AQA exam body, said: "The issue of timescales for the implementation of A-level reforms and the method of engagement with universities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. | Andrew Hall, head of the AQA exam body, said: "The issue of timescales for the implementation of A-level reforms and the method of engagement with universities should be addressed as a matter of urgency. |
| "On resits, we agree that everyone should be entitled to resit an exam, because anyone can have a bad day and deserves a second chance. But we have been concerned for some time that the culture of resits was distorting exam results." | "On resits, we agree that everyone should be entitled to resit an exam, because anyone can have a bad day and deserves a second chance. But we have been concerned for some time that the culture of resits was distorting exam results." |
| The government has welcomed the changes, saying Ofqual's report shows that its reform plans are right. | The government has welcomed the changes, saying Ofqual's report shows that its reform plans are right. |
| A spokeswoman said: "Academics at our best universities have been concerned that there are real problems with A-levels. | A spokeswoman said: "Academics at our best universities have been concerned that there are real problems with A-levels. |
| "We are pleased that January exams and multiple resits will be scrapped, that people want less internal assessment and that universities have given such a clear signal that they want to be involved in designing A-levels. | "We are pleased that January exams and multiple resits will be scrapped, that people want less internal assessment and that universities have given such a clear signal that they want to be involved in designing A-levels. |
| "It is enormously encouraging that there is such support for a robust and relevant new system which will allow young people to demonstrate real knowledge and understanding of their subjects." | "It is enormously encouraging that there is such support for a robust and relevant new system which will allow young people to demonstrate real knowledge and understanding of their subjects." |
| In the consultation document published by Ofqual in June, there was a plan for exam boards to have to show that each A-level qualification had the support of at least 20 UK universities, including 12 which are respected in the field or considered to be leading research institutions. | In the consultation document published by Ofqual in June, there was a plan for exam boards to have to show that each A-level qualification had the support of at least 20 UK universities, including 12 which are respected in the field or considered to be leading research institutions. |
| That plan has been criticised by universities and school leaders. | That plan has been criticised by universities and school leaders. |
| Ambitious | Ambitious |
| Universities UK (UUK), which represents university leaders, says it supports the "broad thrust" of the plans, but that universities do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications and that the timetable for change is "too ambitious". | Universities UK (UUK), which represents university leaders, says it supports the "broad thrust" of the plans, but that universities do not want to "take ownership" of the qualifications and that the timetable for change is "too ambitious". |
| Its chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, said: "Universities have an important role to play in developing A-level curriculum and in ensuring that A-level content supports progression to higher education. University academics and staff are already extensively engaged in this way and have been working with the awarding organisations for many years. | Its chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, said: "Universities have an important role to play in developing A-level curriculum and in ensuring that A-level content supports progression to higher education. University academics and staff are already extensively engaged in this way and have been working with the awarding organisations for many years. |
| "A-levels should remain broad enough to prepare students for the next stage of life, whether in higher education, employment or other forms of education. Given this, we would encourage Ofqual to seek subject expertise from all types of universities in the UK and not restrict it to a selection of institutions." | "A-levels should remain broad enough to prepare students for the next stage of life, whether in higher education, employment or other forms of education. Given this, we would encourage Ofqual to seek subject expertise from all types of universities in the UK and not restrict it to a selection of institutions." |
| Wales and Northern Ireland are conducting their own separate reviews into the future of exams for 14 to 18-year-olds so these changes will just affect students in England, potentially leading to different A-level exams being taken by pupils in different parts of the UK. | Wales and Northern Ireland are conducting their own separate reviews into the future of exams for 14 to 18-year-olds so these changes will just affect students in England, potentially leading to different A-level exams being taken by pupils in different parts of the UK. |