Martin Allen Despite Ofqual’s well-crafted explanations, the real involvement of Michael Gove in the GCSE results scandal may never be known. It suits Gove to allow Ofqual to take the flack and it’s clear that he intends to use the dispute to push ahead with his programme of examination reform. Maybe Lib-Dem opposition will stop … Continue reading Wither GCSE? →

 Martin Allen  http://maeducationgp.wordpress.com/ If the fall in the number of top A-level grades was enough to start alarm bells ringing, it is the first ever dip in GCSE performance, particularly the down grading in English, which has been greeted with dismay by teachers.  Exam boards have been the target for much of the anger, being … Continue reading Exam turmoil raises bigger question’s about young people’s futures →

If Michael Gove gets his way, more teenagers will fail their GCSEs and A-levels.  Gove intends to make exam questions harder which will mean pass rates will fall after increasing every year for a decade.  At GCSE level, coursework will be phased out and more emphasis placed on written tests. Modularisation will be ended and … Continue reading ‘Education is like trying to run up a down escalator’ →

In a widely reported speech, Michael Gove tried to project his ‘moderniser’ credentials to an audience of ‘techies’at the recent BETT show. Describing ICT lessons as being ‘off-putting’ ‘demotivating’ and ‘dull’ Gove is removing ICT’s status as a core National Curriculum subject – it will, like technology and citizenship, now just be part of the … Continue reading Curriculum Wars ?– Gove goes again! →

  Though published just before Christmas, it’s still rather alarming that the ‘expert’ report on the National Curriculum passed almost unnoticed. Michael Gove has announced no changes will begin until 2014 so as to ‘allow for further debate with everyone interested in creating a genuinely world-class education system’. Having said this though, the report’s proposals … Continue reading Curriculum Wars? A brief comment on new National Curriculum proposals →

Understandably, much of the attention given to Michael Gove’s White Paper The Importance of Teaching has centred on plans for expanding Academies and Free Schools. One of Michael Gove’s longer term objectives however, is to make radical changes to the relationship between young people and qualifications. The White Paper reaffirms Coalition plans for a return … Continue reading Michael Gove’s White Paper →