Controversial exam passes head's test

Alan Wright, head of Bolton School Boys' Division, used the school's annual summer prizegiving to describe as "irresponsible" those who have condemned AS exams.

The AS Level, introduced this year, is intended to fill the middle ground between GCSEs and A Levels.

Sixth formers study a broader range of subjects in less depth than an A-Level, with exams at the end of their first year. The final mark is the equivalent to half an A Level.

But the exams have been slammed by critics who claim that they have put more stress on pupils and exam organisers, as more tests have had to be fitted into a crowded timetable.

Concern has also been expressed after some universities failed to recognise the qualification when offering places to potential undergraduates.

Education minister Estelle Morris recently announced a rethink of the system for next year, suggesting that sixth formers should take fewer exams in their first year to ease potential problems.

But Mr Wright said the AS Levels needed to be given time to bed in before "being kicked in the teeth".

He said: "It is irresponsible for those in high office nationally to denigrate a system they created before our students have had a chance to complete their papers."

And he asked: "What kind of message does that send out to boys who have worked hard all year and who now hear the exams being devalued?"

In Bolton during AS exams last month, sixth formers at Canon Slade were forced to go into school on Saturday to sit drama exams because the weekly timetable was so full.

Other sixth forms in the town saw students having to cram as many as five exams into one day. In some cases pupils were given the choice of sitting seven-and-a-half-hours of exams in one day, or carrying some over until the next day and spending the night away from home in isolation.

However, Mr Wright said that the introduction of AS Levels at Bolton School had gone smoothly.

He said: "It is the responsibility of schools to make the system work and that can be done, as we have proved this year, by meticulous planning." Junior school will now be open to boys aged seven BOLTON School presented 63 prizes to hardworking pupils at their annual award ceremony.

These were presented by the chairman of governors, Sir Alan Cockshaw, and his wife, Lady Cockshaw.

Sir Alan went on to announce a major change to the entry rules to the school from next year which, as reported in the BEN, will see children from seven years old upwards being admitted to the junior school, as opposed to the traditional age of eight.

He also spoke of new developments at the school such as a new Information Technology room, which will be opened in September.

And he paid tribute to the school for remaining true to its founding father's idealism.

"The vision of the first Lord Leverhulme lives on -- to keep the door of the school open to boys whose parents cannot afford fees," said Sir Alan. Boys Division prizewinners Popplewell Scholarship: D A Newgrosh;

Special Endeavour Award: T D Griffiths;

Bernard Crossley Award: M C Griffiths;

Emma Saxelby (French): S Lord;

Metcalfe (Modern Language): M R Holmes, N R Treuherz;

Geoffrey Rossetti (English): G R Shires;

Lipscomb (Speech and Drama): senior: D J Abson, middle: J E Taylor;

Senior Library Exhibition Prize: N R Moores;

Edmundson Prize: A J Finlay, R G Gregory, R A Howard, G R Shires;

HT Lane: M A Higgins;

Victor Lambert (Medical Studies): M A Atcha;

Warburton (Geography): M J Finlay, D J Lees;

Geography Project: M J Ashforth, N M Pantelides, G J S Partington;

Junior Geography: S P Rainford;

Bramall (Economics): A A Zaman;

Keogh-Ritson (Law): T J Pickup;

Gardner-Taylor (General Studies): L A Scowcroft;

Booth (Economics and Social History): A A Zaman;

Penston Memorial (History): 1st: J Foster, 2: J M Howarth;

William Brown (History): W J Hilton;

Ethel Wigglesworth (Organ): A J Finlay;

Brierley (Violin): A S L Edge;

Metcalfe (Music): R J DeMaine;

Parents' Association (Science): D A Newgrosh;

Springfield (Science): C Flanagan;

Higginson (Art): P Patel;

Tillotson (Typography): P Patel;

Jary (Art): A K Min;

Brabbin (Art and Technology): D J Nuttall;

Mellowdew (Design and Technology): C R Townsend;

Baggley (ICT): D P Collins, P A Fryatt;

Ainsworth (Maths): D A Newgrosh;

Tom Watson (Statistics): C Flanagan;

Middle School Maths: N M Pantelides;

Alderman Steele: A S Harris;

Steele: B J Vickers;

Ryley (Community Service): J Eastham;

Ron Booth: J D Noorhaizamdin;

I N R Davies: R D Myers;

Wainwright: (Blackburn): A R Wotherspoon, (Chorley): J D Noorhaizamdin, (Manchester): A R Brown, (Wigan): S J Wolfenden;

Frank Brown (U6): M C Griffiths;

Frank Brown (L6): C A Boscoe;

Frank Brown (5): S P Ross;

Frank Brown (4) R J H Winstanley;

Frank Brown (2): P N Hutton;

Frank Brown (1): R J Fenton;

Frank Greene: R D Myers, A A Zaman;

Bolton Grammar Old Boys: J A Broudie.