On the 12th of February 2002, the Times newspapers headline stated ' Bright pupils to bypass the GCSE exam'. As I read on, the article explained that the government think that smarter pupils should be able to miss GCSEs in their best subjects and start learning for their A-levels. This is under a wide-ranging shake-up of education that was launched on Tuesday 12th February 2002.
The Education and Skills Secretary, Estelle Morris, will outline her plans for a new "fast-track for high achievers" in a Green Paper on the 14-19 age group. This means that schools will be encouraged to move able pupils on to AS levels as quickly as possible.
So that we can understand it, here is basically what the new 'Green Paper' means; That smarter people will, be able to miss GCSEs in the subjects that they are very good at. Instead, they will go straight on to AS-level training. This is because the government are trying to raise the 'learning age' to 19, as many pupils have dropped out of school at 15 or 16, therefore not getting a full education.
I wanted to find out the views of others, especially those that are around my age and have just chosen their GCSE choices. I have asked a wide range of pupils from different schools, their ideas on the subject, here are their answers to the question:
Do you think that smarter children should be allowed to miss their GCSEs and go straight onto AS-level work?
Victoria Blair-aged 13 from Hockerill Anglo-European Language College:
"I don't really agree. I think GCSEs are important for the future and you need exam experience."
Claire Brookes - aged 12 from Bancrofts School:
"I think it is quite a good idea as it is a waste of time for the pupils to do all that work for GCSEs when they could be spending their time trying to succeed in their A-levels."
John Hale- aged 13 from The Perse School for Boys Cambridge:
"Great but what do you do when someone asks you how you did in your GCSEs?"
Sarah Clegg- aged 13 from The Perse School for Girls Cambridge:
"I think its silly, because if they are that intelligent they could pass their GCSEs easily anyway. It shouldn't be any problem for them. If their intelligence has been misjudged as they have really only been copying others, then GCSEs are exams to prove their really intelligence so after them, they'll know that they have to get better and try harder before their A-levels."
Isabelle Pemberton- aged 14 from Herts and Essex School for Girls:
"I think it would be good as GCSEs don't really add to anything but A-levels are much more important for achieving entrance to University which determines your future career."
I also asked for the opinion of Louise Turner, who is the Head of guidance services at Harlow College, she said:
" I do not think they should because if they take their A levels early they could have finished their A levels at 16. Would they then be ready to go away from home to University at 16? If not, what would they do? Universities are adult environments, not suitable for 16 year olds."
My personal opinion is that I think that clever children should do GCSEs. If they find some subjects really easy, than they should be able to take them a year earlier than their other subjects, as then they will have more time to revise for the subjects that they find harder. This means that will still have exam experience and will have all their GCSEs.
What is your opinion on this matter, if you have any views please send them to
HBOBABE@hotmail.com.
Hopefully, as you have read this article, you have discovered what we, the pupils involved with GCSEs at the moment think and you have had an insight into others views on the subject.