GCSE shake-up threatens those with SpLD

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Plans to scrap continuous assessment in GCSEs in favour of final exams at the end of two years have been confirmed by the Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Gove announced a wide-ranging shake-up of the examinations system which will see an end to controlled assessments and modular courses in England, except for science, where a small assessed element for practical work will be retained. A move to more “demanding” and “stretching” exams, based more heavily on longer essays, is also promised.

GCSE grades will be changed, with the old A* to G system being replaced by a grading from 8 to 1 (with 8 being the top grade). Mr Gove has also promised to tighten up subject specifications, saying that current course descriptions are “too vague” and can be inconsistent across exam boards.

The revised GCSEs have been seen by many as harking back to the ethos of the O-level system which was in force until the 1980s. Mr Gove said that his proposals would enable pupils to “compete with the best in the world”.

The British Dyslexia Association has strongly criticised the GCSE plans, saying that measuring achievement solely on final exams will greatly disadvantage those with dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs).

Students with Dyslexia and SpLDs tend to have poor working memory and levels of information processing, which can cause particular problems in high-pressure exam situations. Continuous assessment is a less stressful way of testing pupils and provides a far more accurate measure of these pupils’ ability, the BDA argues.

The charity warns that many young people with SpLDs will be put off continuing into further education, or will be unable to progress, because of the problems they will face with the revised GCSEs.

The new GCSE system will be introduced in autumn 2015, with the first exams being sat in summer 2017.

SEN News Team
Author: SEN News Team

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