John can
deliver training
or offer consultancy
in your school either in the UK or overseas at competitive prices.
Why send a teacher on a course when the trainer can
come to you?
John
can source INSET trainers and consultants for your school at very competitive prices. Get in touch: jmedlicott@hotmail.com
Many schools feel in “limbo” at
present, the GCSE has been truly undermined by this government despite the fact
that it was introduced by the Conservatives in the 1980’s, to be replaced by an
unknown quantity – the English Baccalaureate. What credible alternatives exist
in the meantime for those schools that have already identified that the GCSE is
not working for their students? After all OFSTED judge the leadership team by
the suitability of the courses they offer as part of a broad and balanced
curriculum.
There
is a practical alternative out there- the IGCSE examined currently by either
Edexcel or University of Cambridge International Examinations and has been
available for state schools in the UK since 2010.
The
international GCSE (IGCSE) which was modeled on the old O-level which Mr. Gove
seems to hold as the gold standard is widely seen as a sterner test than the
GCSE. The qualification has long been popular among independent schools. But
recent years have seen a growing number of state schools jump ship from 250 in
2010 when it was approved for use in state schools, to 1,170 this year
(offering IGCSE in at least one subject).
So
why have so many state schools made the switch in the past two years?
- IGCSE offers both a more rigorous approach and a better route into
A-levels.
- Dislike of the controlled assessment element of GCSE in particular
in English Language and Science was a major factor in the decision to change
- Teachers say the specification is more fun to teach and more fun
to learn, and tests traditional skills
But
what are the potential risks?
Less
A’s and B’s? – many schools have found this not to be the case and their league
table positions have not suffered. In some cases they have improved
considerably. Eastbury Comprehensive in Barking, east London, this year in English
achieved 84% A* to C on IGCSE, up from 68% in 2011 in GCSE.
The
test now will be whether Michael Gove's English baccalaureate certificates prove robust enough to stop, or
even reverse, the flight to the IGCSE.
Want to find out more? John can offer consultancy and training in your school
Contact jmedlicott@hotmail.com
Follow on twitter @johnmedlicott