Major reforms to GCSE exams risk losing the “real substance ofeducation” as schools take a results-driven approach to teaching,Ofsted’s head has warned.
Chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman expressed concern that theshake-up of grading, coming into effect next month,could deprive pupils of abroad education.
Traditional A*-G grades have been axed and from this year students willseeGCSEs in English and maths graded 9-1 -with 9 the highest result. Inthe next few years, the changes will be brought in for all subjects.
Supporters have argued the move is necessary to allow moredifferentiation between students.
Extending the grading system is expected to make it tougher for pupilsto crack into the highest bands.
Ms Spielman told The Sunday Times pressure to succeed under the newregime meant schools were finding it “hard to make sure they putchildren’s interests first and think children, children, children”.
“The real substance of education is getting lost in our schools,” sheadded.
An inclination to drill students for exam success could follow, she toldthe paper, compromising their chance of getting a “broad and balancededucation”.
She claimed to have seen a class of11-year-olds being led through theGCSE mark schemes in place of their normal lesson at one school.
Schools were also said to be broadening some courses from two to threeyears so pupils could be adequately prepared.
This method might ensure they get “cracking grades”, she said, but itcould leave them short of the skills required to thrive in later life.“That is not something any of us should be happy with,” she added.
Ms Spielman said subjects such as art, music, sport, humanities and drama were being squeezed as children were forced to decide which subjects to study or drop aged just 13.
The “teaching to the test” mentality had spread even to primary schools, she added, where eight and nine-year-olds face two or three years of mock papers to prepare them for national tests they would not take until the age of 11.
Want to keep up with the latest education news and opinion? Followand like
