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State school IGCSE possibility

Posted on 16th June 2008

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The exams watchdog is considering implementing a state school alternative to the International GCSE (IGCSE) currently adopted by a number of independent schools.

Pupils at around 250 private schools sit the exams at present, but institutions in the state sector have been precluded from entering their students because it does not meet the GCSE curriculum criteria, reports the Independent.

However, exam boards have now proposed a new Cambridge International Certificate to Ofqual, which could be more suitable for state schools.

Bearing a similarity to the old style O-levels, it is currently being considered by the exams watchdog as an alternative to the current IGCSE syllabus used in independent schools, which is designed by Cambridge International Examinations.

The government has this month been criticised by thinktank Civitas, which argues that international students studying for the IGCSE could have an advantage over British pupils.

It contends that it is superior to the current assessment, hitting out at the government for disallowing students at state institutions from studying the qualification.
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