Policy in tatters, says MP Julie
8:54am Friday 8th February 2013 in Local
THE government’s education policy is “in tatters”, according to Bolton West MP Julie Hilling.
Ms Hilling questioned Mr Gove following his statement in the House of Commons yesterday morning.
Speaking in parliament, she said: “The headteacher who told me last year that he went to bed in 2012, and woke up in 1956, probably thinks today he’s woken up on Groundhog Day.
“Does the secretary of state not realise the harm he does to young people every time he disparages the GCSEs they work so hard to achieve?
“So what value does he think employers should put on current GCSEs now?”
Mr Gove replied: “I think the real harm occurs when children are at schools where teaching is not of a good quality, and where ambitions and aspirations for those children are insufficiently high.
“One of the problems we have experienced in the past is that employers have said that some qualifications — including those introduced under the last government — do not command confidence.
“That is a tragedy, but today we are playing a part in the ending of it.”
Speaking to The Bolton News, Ms Hilling said the government’s education policy was in tatters following the announcement.
She said: “I have repeatedly urged Michael Gove to listen to heads and teachers who have consistently warned that reforming GCSEs would take education in this country back to the 1950s.
“I am pleased that the government has finally made this u-turn, but I feel that Mr Gove should never have announced his proposals in the way that he did in the first place.
“Mr Gove has caused unnecessary worry to heads, teachers, pupils and parents in my constituency.
“The deeply damaging comments that he has made recently risk devaluing GCSEs, which is utterly unfair to the young people who work so hard to achieve these important qualifications.
“I hope now that he will consult if and when he decides to propose similar radical reforms to our education system.”
Comments(5)
Marzi30
says...
2:07pm Fri 8 Feb 13
thealexweb
says...
2:31pm Fri 8 Feb 13
PDY
says...
4:18am Sat 9 Feb 13
The answer is very simple. We should go back to the same syllabus as the "old" GCE O level. Include subjects like ITC if you want to make it inclusive of the "modern world" but keep the same syllabus. The Teaching unions in this country are left wing and "anti-failure". The GCSE papers are far too easy and the pass levels are difficult for employers to interpret. The old GCE O levels gave a very definite standard of pass or, dare I say it, failure and were of a higher academic level. It is impossible to include all levels of academic ability in one single system of testing. Some kids simply do not have academic ability but excel in other areas. The Government, Teaching Unions and Employers Associations should agree on a parallel education system that allows kids for whom an apprentice based style of education would be best suited. Lets give the less academic kids a chance to be painters, electricians, plasterers and stop using overseas labour to fill this gap. There are loads of retired or redundan skilled tradesmen who would jump at the chance to teach hands on stuff. The kids could study basic English and Maths as well.”
berushka
says...
3:57pm Sun 10 Feb 13
PDY wrote:Hear, Hear! Well said.
Julie Hilling is a product of this education system and she is typical of the anti-failure culture that is sapping the strength of this once great country with her mamby pamby left wing views. This is a comment that I posted on another item related to GCSE's.
The answer is very simple. We should go back to the same syllabus as the "old" GCE O level. Include subjects like ITC if you want to make it inclusive of the "modern world" but keep the same syllabus. The Teaching unions in this country are left wing and "anti-failure". The GCSE papers are far too easy and the pass levels are difficult for employers to interpret. The old GCE O levels gave a very definite standard of pass or, dare I say it, failure and were of a higher academic level. It is impossible to include all levels of academic ability in one single system of testing. Some kids simply do not have academic ability but excel in other areas. The Government, Teaching Unions and Employers Associations should agree on a parallel education system that allows kids for whom an apprentice based style of education would be best suited. Lets give the less academic kids a chance to be painters, electricians, plasterers and stop using overseas labour to fill this gap. There are loads of retired or redundan skilled tradesmen who would jump at the chance to teach hands on stuff. The kids could study basic English and Maths as well.”
oftbewildered2 says...
9:19am Fri 8 Feb 13