‘A’level results, not a level playing field.

Lucca posted- "One of the good things about A level studies these days is the variety of subjects you can put together. Back in the day it was always maths physics chemistry/ English French German/ etc etc. Now I have a young relative studying maths geography and french."

This may be a step in the right direction but it does not go far enough.

Would it not be better to copy Scottish Highers where pupils study a bigger and broader range of subjects (when I left school Higher English was required for all university courses and Higher Maths for many).

If not, Highers, how about the International Baccalaureat or develop the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) which is a performance measure for any student who achieves good GCSE or accredited Certificate passes in English, mathematics, history or geography, two sciences and a language.

I did think it looked strange.

I do agree that teachers should be allowed to do their job. They do know the pupils and what they can do, often better than the parents.

Funny though about the Latin . I did it because I was going to do French and you had to have Alevel Latin, but I was blessed with this incredible Latin teacher and loved it .

westendgirl

Your post doesn't make sense WW2. Is it a distraction ?

Of course it was!

That age group have had a rotten year.

The government needs to but out and let the teachers do their job without interference.

One years worth of students - that is all! They are already tarred with the fact that they haven’t proven their ability by sitting their exams.

Fortunately, the above is a fake account (sorry to mislead - I meant to add a note), but a glance through some comments after some newspaper articles shows that there really are people who think like that.

What an idiot.totally ignoring the facts. Not all schools do mocks. Some didn’t have time to do the. Before lockdown, etc etc etc.

A former Conservative MP tweeted this. Goodness knows why he was awarded a knighthood or CBE, but it certainly wasn't for understanding exam assessment or rewarding hard work. I suspect there are others of his mindset who are ignorantly chuntering the same kind of thing.

westendgirl

Your post doesn't make sense WW2. Is it a distraction ?

Meanwhile, we await developments, as Ofqual decides on its next move, having withdrawn its instructions on appeals, which had only recently been announced.

I suspect the Ofqual virtual offices are buzzing today.

Lucca

One of the brightest students I ever taught (at a state school) took three languages plus history at A level. After her degree in international politics she is now working in some kind of high powered finance office (I’m hopeless at exactly what people’s jobs are)

Most of the people who studied for language degrees on my course went on to have careers in finance, banking, journalism, law, HR, etc. At the time, language graduates were sought after as computer analysts and programmers because we were taught a certain kind of logic, which transposes well to dealing with computer code. I would imagine high level study of classical languages does the same.

Your post doesn't make sense WW2. Is it a distraction ?

I can't agree with you at all Whitewave. I was told I had to learn Latin at school because it was likely I would apply to study French and German, which I did. I don't think it was that useful in the end and Oxbridge and UCL abandoned the requirement to have O level in Latin the year I applied - as did medical degrees. Both my children studied Latin at their state comprehensives from choice and I think it's been an add-on to our knowledge/experience of the world, in the same way some people are experts on all sorts of things which aren't vocational. I don't regret learning Latin and even went to U3A classes a few years to refresh my knowledge.

My daughter studied history and economics at university and went on to do an MA in history. My former mother-in-law did her very best to dissuade her from studying something which wouldn't lead to a good career, but my daughter was determined. History teaches all sorts of generic skills, which are useful in most management jobs. It also teaches a wider understanding of the world in which we live now. My daughter, now in her late 20s, is an HR Manager and earns more than my former mother-in-law (or I) ever did. So my daughter has ended up studying something she loved and a well-paid career.

Not to mention the arts and music which generate revenue for the country. The moderating algorithm seems to be flawed and this is a shambles but let's not forget the 60% of pupils that have achieved significant success as well and their achievements and hard work should not be overlooked in this.

Sorry me again. One of the good things about a level studies these days is the variety of subjects you can put together. Back in the day it was always maths physics chemistry/ English French German/ etc etc. Now I have a young relative studying maths geography and french.

One of the brightest students I ever taught (at a state school) took three languages plus history at A level. After her degree in international politics she is now working in some kind of high powered finance office (I’m hopeless at exactly what people’s jobs are)

Oh dear. I wouldn’t like to live in a society populated entirely by people who have only studied sciences. I’m all for Latin and classics, not to mention English and history. These subjects broaden the mind and human understanding, and are easily as important for civilisation as maths and science.

X post Lucca
Bravo!

So engineering of all types, medical, Sciences etc and downgraded obscure A levels like Latin, classics, etc.
The trouble with that WWM2 is that you are damning the entire legal profession - barristers, solicitors - and many other workers who require A levels in those subjects. Also Modern Languages students often find Latin beneficial. In the past, several in my family have had high ranking careers in the church which certainly required learning Latin and Classics. We have to have a diverse workforce with a whole range of qualifications.

Moreover, surely an A Level in ANY subject shows commitment to studies and a certain work ethic?
Or is this another dig at independent school A level candidates here?

Wow ! obscure subjects like the classics, which train the mind and are a huge help in learning modern languages?
Down grade some subjects and not others ? Sorry but I find that idea rather divisive.

If I had any say in the matter, I would have biased the algorithm in favour of A levels that would help produce a workforce of the future.

So engineering of all types, medical, Sciences etc and downgraded obscure A levels like Latin, classics, etc.

Ofqual has just withdrawn the appeal criteria and says the procedure is "being reviewed".

They are truly excellent indeed Deeda, at being so terrifying incompetent - quite an achievement.

You haven't mentioned pensioners, who have already lost their TV licences and almost certainly the triple lock on pensions will be abolished.

Well I think the government have now managed to piss off pretty much all their voters now. The bosses who haven't been able to open their businesses. the Brexiteers who don't seem to be getting the Brexit they wanted, the workers who have lost their jobs, the anti immigration people who want gunships in the channel, the pro immigration people who want immigrants assisted, and to cap it all the youngsters in deprived areas who should be their new generation of supporters, but who have seen their (non) exam results knocked back and fear they may never get to university.

Quite an achievement to upset so many different people for so many different reasons.

Of course Maizie- she must be as she says '*yes I do have knowledge of what teachers predict and why, both in the private and the state sector.*' or perhaps a school inspector.

How do you call an algorithm "unbiased" when it will award a higher grade to a weak pupil from a strong performing school but down-grade a brilliant pupil from a poor performing school?

Algorithms have been created by programmers, following instructions from biased humans. They are not God-given!

biba70

Apologies Lemongrove, I did not know that you were a 6th Form teacher, like many of us here.

Is she...?