Education Secretary Michael Gove has recently raised concerns that A-levels were failing to stretch pupils and suggested that a greater control of A-Level content should be handed to universities.
The proposal from Mr Gove comes as a study suggested
universities wanted A-levels to be more intellectually stretching 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.
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.
Mr Gove's proposal would continue to allow exam
boards to design courses, but they would need to show that universities had
been involved.
However Mr Gove’s plans have been given a mixed
reception. The NUT ‘is very disappointed that Michael Gove has approached
Ofqual without consulting the profession as well’, while ATL teachers union
accused the government of acting on a "whim" rather than on evidence.
They state:
"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. They
state that,
"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.
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