Qualification Reform or Simply more Change?

Posted by: Graeme Hall May 26, 01:54 pm Comment on this articlePermlink

Last Wednesday (20th May 2009), The Guardian ran an article suggesting that the Conservatives are considering moves to sideline existing A-level qualifications because they produce students that expect to be spoon-fed through university and fail to stretch the brightest pupils.

The shadow secretary of state, David Willetts, said universities would be encouraged to ‘club together’ to design tougher alternatives. He also acknowledged that A-levels are not the best preparation for university.

Here at the West London LLN, and at many others across England, we are busy working with universities and employers to make sure that the new Diplomas fit the needs of university entrance and the workplace – it was to address the very issues that Mr Willetts raised that the Diplomas were created and it would be a tragic waste of time, money and goodwill if the change and improvement promised by the Diplomas was swept away before they have the opportunity to prove their worth.

The structure of the Diplomas has been designed to equip students with the skills to become self-reliant learners, fit for higher study or employment, and has the support of all universities.

Concerns, where they exist, are around content and match with existing university curriculum which may be the problem rather than the entry qualifications.

We would be happy to provide a tutorial for Mr Willetts and his Conservative colleagues, in the hope that we can save them the cost of unnecessary change – we will even pay our own travel expenses!

Graeme Hall, Executive Director of the West London Lifelong Learning Network.

Your Comments

  1. I have known for years that some universities only offer certain degrees (‘thin’ sandwich for example) to our vocational learners and not GCEA because they have more immediately employable skills than their ‘A’ level counterparts who have researched less topics but in far more detail. I would argue that any level 3 qualification can produce spoon-fed learners and the issue is probably more to do with hours to deliver the curriculum rather than a failing of ‘A’ levels per se as I have seen spoon-fed vocational courses too.

    Posted by: Stuart Blackmore · Curriculum Manager Southwark College May 27, 11:47 am

  2. Dear Graham
    While I disagree with the creation of other qualifications to stretch students to make it easier for Universities to select the most able, I also think that Diplomas have only added confusion to an already confused and confusing educational arena. I would welcome any government that has the courage and vision to realise that the education for 14-18 should neither be designed for preparation to work nor for university, but it should be designed develop each individual so that they can fully participate in society in which ever way they wish. Young people need to fully understand the environment they live in (through studying history, science, literature etc) have the basic skills required for life (english, math, foreign languages, IT) and develops their potential in their area of interest (music, carpentry, sports or any other vocational area). All students would do a core set of subjects and some elective subjects. All students should do some manual/practical course. We could then scrap A levels, Diplomas, BTEC etc etc.
    This system of course already exist and it is the International Baccalaureate . So in my opinion with an election coming up we should not defend the system we have got but encourage all parties to come up with a better system.

    Posted by: Stefano Casalotti · Curriculum Development Manager Linking London Lifelong Learning Network May 27, 11:19 am

  3. Dear Greame. It seems to me that there will be also an awful waste of money under labour’s proposals as they insist on runing existing qualifacations running along with the 17 Diplomas predicated by the assumption of competition and choice. This must imply that the take up for some diplomas will be low and not economically viable. Meanwhile private education is abandoning all these qualifications and focusing onthe Pre ‘U’ and Internation Bacc. WE LIVE IN STARNGE TIMES.

    Posted by: Gareth Chester-Jones · Head of School Humanities City of Westmenster College May 27, 10:55 am

Comment on this article