Industry News
Private school drops A-levels
Posted on 9th July 2007
Winchester College has announced plans to scrap A-levels in favour of the untested Cambridge Pre-U qualification, which is thought to more difficult.
The headmaster has told parents that the boys' school will test the Cambridge Pre-U, which is developed by Cambridge University's exam board, next year in the subjects of English, art, history, physics and chemistry.
With boarding fees standing at about £20,000 a year, Winchester College is said to be the first to sign up for the new form of exams in those subjects.
Commenting on the switch, school headmaster Ralph Townsend said there was concern over the "reduced content and challenge" of A-level and GCSEs and said the college would be withdrawing from the "unreliable" and "misleading" league tables system.
In an effort to prevent an independent sector revolt, the government has announced measures to introduce more "stretch and challenge" to A-levels in addition to a new A* grade that would allow competitive universities greater scope to identify the best candidates, according to the Financial Times.