GCSEs should be axed, says a teachers’ leader. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the powerful National Education Union, said the pandemic has proved GCSEs are no longer fit for purpose.
Despite record results and an improvement on last year’s shambolic assessment system, Dr Bousted called on Government to end the “tsunami of exams” that are taking a heavy mental health toll on the young.
She explained: “The CBI has said we can’t just keep putting children through exams we have to develop their skills.
“Few nations put this hurdle in young people’s path at 16. To have them take 30 exams in two weeks is too much. That takes up a huge chunk of time.
“When GCSEs were brought in, people left school at 16 so you needed an exit exam. They leave at 18 now so why leave this massive hurdle in place?”
The exam system has been hit by controversy for two years as grade inflation and learning algorithms left many without proper grades.
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The Institute for Government said the Government’s “refusal” to make contingency plans for schools and exams in summer 2020 or later was “unforgivable”.
Dr Bousted added: “This year, because Boris Johnson refused to countenance exams not taking place, teachers were not told until January they were going to give grades. If they hadn’t worked as they had young people wouldn’t be getting their results.”
In June the NEU launched The Independent Assessment Commission to look at the case for changing exams.
Launching the commission, Prof Louise Hayward said: “The system fails too many. Time for change is now. It is creating a generation scarred by the exam system.”
Two teachers whose families bore the brunt of the failing exam system are backing calls for change.
Languages teacher Emma Rose, 45, whose daughter Thea, 17, was among pupils caught up in last year’s GCSEs turmoil, said: “The current system massively lets down our young people and this has been highlighted over the last two exam seasons.”
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Emma, from Warwick, added: “Each year only a certain percentage can achieve a certain grade. This means a certain number will fail. How can this in any way be fair?”
Meanwhile Emma Parker, 41, a special educational needs teacher in Durham, who has three boys, aged 11, 14 and 15 who are autistic, said: “Our system is not set up to support them.
“It forces unrealistic targets on children and staff culminating in a massive rise in mental health problems
“The assessment system is archaic.”
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