Industry News
QCA to investigate 'easy exams'
Posted on 13th February 2008
Independent schools will soon discover whether their assumption that traditional subjects are more academically demanding than new ones is correct, it has emerged.
Many private schools choose to focus on GCSE and A-level courses they believe give pupils the best academic grounding, while it has been claimed that some state schools encourage youngsters to take subjects perceived as being easy in order to secure better league table performance.
A number of leading universities have begun to issue guidance about which A-levels they prefer applicants to study, with dance, sports studies, performing arts and film studies among the subjects not viewed favourably.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has now confirmed it is to examine the issue in detail in the hope of enabling pupils to make informed choices about the subjects they intend to study.
Isabel Nisbet, QCA's director of regulation, explained: "We won't be trying to suppress debate but we will be trying to shine a light on the debate. People need to know when they are starting out on a course of study that it will be respected."
A report about the issue based on statistical data is due to be published by QCA next week and the exams watchdog hopes it will form the basis for a public debate in the autumn.