The Guardian covers a speech by Michael Gove to a conference on standards arranged by exams watchdog Ofqual in central London today. Apart from suggesting that only a fixed proportion of students each year could attain an A* grade in each subject (I agree this would be a good thing) he is quoted as saying
"We might have a year – even a year while I'm still in office – where GCSE and A-level results dip. Where fewer students get A-stars, fewer students get As. When that happens, there will be an inevitable pointing of fingers, mostly in my direction: 'You're presiding over a decline, you're presiding over failure.'Gob/Smacked.
Well, I won't believe that's true for a moment. I believe that our children and our teachers will be doing better than ever. But I think that if our exams system is accurate, precise, demanding and world-class, there will be years where performance will dip as well as rise."
For years we have had, under successive governments, a consistent rise in exam grades as each year the Education Secretary tries to persuade us that they're doing a far better job than their predecessors in managing the education of the children of this country. And then BOOM! Along comes Gove and says that improving grades isn't as important as improving the education those children receive. I think I quite like him*.
*Assuming that he can actually deliver this idea, putting educational standards in front of grade inflation. I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt for the moment ......
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You, of course, refer to English exam grades to fall under Gove.
his fellow countrymen students will still have access to a cheap (free) decent education.
The English student is being groomed for a life of serfdom and drudgery unlike those people, that were killed on an island off the coast of Norway, they were being groomed for the post democratic era.
I could be talking bollux.
I don't like the idea of a fixed proportion getting a particular grade.
One year, maybe lots will do well enough for an A (the A* is a stupid idea). Another year, maybe hardly anyone will get that far.
A consistent exam would be the ideal, so employers know what they're getting.
These days they complain about graduates being useless!
Then again I was complaining about them five years ago, when I was still teaching them.
Well Gove is only pointing out something we all know. That exams have been made to be easier to cover up the failings of the education system.
Ah Leg-iron! We could argue the merits of each system of grading all night ..... especially if we cracked open a bottle or two of whisky to accompany the fags .....
Having a fixed % of students awarded the top grade (if they must keep the A*) should prevent the ridiculous grade inflation that has happened over the last 20 years.
The fixed grade boundary/ fixed % award argument has been around for decades and will probably still be around in decades to come.
I do agree that consistent exam quality would be the ideal situation but is it too difficult to realistically achieve?
This sounds like pre 1987 where the top 10% got an A, the next percentile a B etc. This enabled each year to be compared to the previous one and universities knew who the really outstanding candidates were.
Good move and those with the top grades will really have earned them.
I still think this is the best way to do it "In the interests of fair education policy, under a loony government all children will automatically be given full marks in their exams" http://www.loonyparty.com/loony-archive/2005-general-election-manifesto/ they also suggest a lottery system which could be fun
TLB
You would say that though wouldn't you TLB what with your current situation and all ;o)
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