According to a survey by Cambridge Assessment, easy A –levels are
a major concern for Universities. The survey found that 60% of lecturers have pressed
into teaching school leavers catch-up classes in basic essay writing skills,
grammar and critical thinking. Dr Sean
Lang, a senior lecturer in History at Anglia Ruskin University, said that ‘A
levels are a watered down version of their former selves. He believes they were
made too easy in 2000 when the government introduced a modular system that
allows students to re-take exams multiple times until they pass.
But at Wydomndham College, students have replied
back stating that A levels are not just about the exams. If A levels became
harder it would mean almost no time left for recreational and extracurricular
activities such as sport, drama and dance while the gap between GCSEs and
A-Levels would become even larger.
The students of the college have the support of the Principal too
who thinks that universities should put their own house in order before
criticising schools. He states
"Certainly we get feedback from students who go to quite reputable
universities who say the amount of contact they're getting at university is not
as good as it should be and not as much as they expect."
Disagreements over what should go into A-levels and how they should be
taught are only likely to get more intense. The Education Secretary Michael
Gove today voiced his concern that A-levels don't prepare school leavers for
the rigours of taking a degree. He added that he would like to see universities
have more of a say over A-levels' content. A likely sign that yet more changes
to the education system lie ahead.
What do you think?
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