Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove recently proposed more education reforms, including changes to GSCEs and new English Baccalaureate Certificates, that may have consequences for arts education.
Posted: 10/02/2012
The Cultural Learning Alliance have written a summary and review of Mr Gove’s announcement. The CLA says his proposals are that:
- The EBAC is to become a performance measure for students too. New English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) will be created to replace GCSEs in EBAC subjects. The first EBCs (in English, Maths and Science) will come into force in 2015, with the rest of the EBAC subjects to follow.
- EBCs will be assessed through traditional, final exams at the end of the period of study. Modules and course-work will be eliminated.
- There will only be one exam board offering each new qualification. Existing exam boards will initially be offered the chance to compete for this role by creating ambitious courses, benchmarked to the worlds best, informed by academic expertise and capable of both recognising exceptional performance and allowing the overwhelming majority of students to have their work recognised and graded fairly. An independent regulator will name the successful provider.
- The new EBCs may be used as a model to reform qualifications in all other subject areas.
- Young people unable to gain an EBAC by age 16 will be offered the chance to keep studying for one until they are 18, or they will be given a written record of achievement which describes their progress in these areas. This will then be shared with prospective employers.
The CLA feels that these proposals could have implications for cultural education. You can read their full review on the CLA website.
LEAN encourages our members to tell us and the CLA what you think of these reforms, and take part in the public consultation on this issue, which runs until December 10, 2012.
