Fears for pupils over GCSE 'downgrades' (From Daily Echo)

Successive governments have been messing around with education for over forty years. Way back in the early 70's, the introduction of comprehensive education and ROSLA caused a massive upheaval from which we have never recovered.

Before that time, ability levels were separated, with grammar schools and secondary schools offering appropriate courses and qualifications to pupils, a system that had been honed over several decades since the 1944 "education for all" act. A lot of new, purpose-built "comprehensive" schools appeared, and grammar schools either went private or became sixth form colleges.

Comprehensive education was supposed to enable children, particularly late developers, to achieve a range of academic levels from 11 to 16, rather than be condemned to one or the other by the 11+ exam.

This all seemed very fair. But schools were faced with massive restructuring of courses, new exams, and a new year group of ROSLAs. Without going into details, and greatly over-simplifying it all, having all these ability levels in one place, often in classes of more than 40, caused all manner of unforseen academic progress and discipline problems. From that time forward, standards began to fall, and all political parties began introducing "revolutionary" plans in their manifestos to curb the downturn.

Each new government has tinkered with education : new exams, streaming, mixed ability teaching, setting, continuous assessment, inclusion of coursework in assessment, industry involvement, in service training for teachers, OFSTED, and a whole host of other "initiatives" I have totally forgotten. But very little changed. I believe they even lowered pass marks in a desperate attempt to improve grades !

Politicians do not know enough about education to develop a successful system. The "quick fixes" to gain political advantage at election time have not worked. There have been some excellent new ideas, but constant changes have prevented these ideas from maturing and blossoming.

Take education out of the political arena, and let the universities run it. That way a new system can be introduced by people who know and understand the educational process, that will develop steadily over time. We need a solid foundation on which to build.

That's just my view, and no doubt there will be a lot of criticism. But something needs to change.

I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

Politekid123 wrote:
I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

Well, maybe you were only 50 marks away from and A grade, so they should give you that...... or you could have worked harder for those 3 marks.... a cut off is a cut off.... obviously something you weren't taught at school......

Politekid123 wrote:
I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

I presume your D grade was in English - I'd say you were lucky!

Huffter wrote:

Politekid123 wrote:
I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

I presume your D grade was in English - I'd say you were lucky!

Vote in the governments that mess up the education system over half a century, then make fun of the victims of that travesty. That is really decent of you, Hufter.

By the way, harrassing site users in a negative manner is in contravention of the site users agreement. But what does a cynic like you care so long as you upset somebody ?

Gainer T Gopher wrote:

Politekid123 wrote:
I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

Well, maybe you were only 50 marks away from and A grade, so they should give you that...... or you could have worked harder for those 3 marks.... a cut off is a cut off.... obviously something you weren't taught at school......

Funny thing Gainer we weren't taught that in school because even the teachers didn't know that was going to happen. Yeah maybe I could of worked a little harder but I worked a hard as I could and still if the grade boundary has been changed harshly I would of got that C. And you can go round saying that 50 marks would give you a A but its not just me it the whole of the UK and Ireland

Huffter wrote:

Politekid123 wrote:
I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

I presume your D grade was in English - I'd say you were lucky!

That's all well you say I have got a D, but that D doesn't give 5 GCSE including ENGLISH and maths.

Politekid123 wrote:

Huffter wrote:

Politekid123 wrote:
I am a student that has got my results today to find that I had go a D grade and then finding out later that I was 3 marks off the 180 marks to get a C grade this has made me very angry that the government has been allowed to meddle with an the grade boundaries. It is unfair and cruel for me and many other students all across the UK in a similar situation

I presume your D grade was in English - I'd say you were lucky!

That's all well you say I have got a D, but that D doesn't give 5 GCSE including ENGLISH and maths.

BTW just so i didn't make that clear enough 5 C's including ENGLISH and maths