To think GCSEs and A levels are crazy

I'd scrap GCSEs and move to a "school leavers certificate" instead, made up of accumulating points/marks from lots of different modules. Scrap the year-by-year system too. Each module lasts a term, and you move up different levels of modules based on what you've already done, i.e. you'd need to have passed level 1 French before doing level 2 French, etc. Each module would be open to all 5 years, so the less able students could just do lots of basic modules, hoping to find something they do well in, but at least getting a broad general knowledge. Higher ability students could just choose their subjects and work through the modules as far as they could get. Test at the end of each module, so end of term tests along with limited teacher assessment of work done through the module, gives the module result/mark. Lower level modules have lower maximum points/marks than higher level marks. English and Maths compulsory every term for at least 1 module each - but lots of different modules, so pupils can choose what topics/module, so can re-take a module if necessary, or move sideways to other similar level modules, so can continue at their own level to gain confidence, rather than the constant "moving up a year" leaving them floundering.

Not every child goes to uni but for those that do in areas that don't have gcse and A levels how do uni entrances work there?

How would that work ?
Not everyone stays at school ,for those that go college if you haven't got at least a grade four in English and Maths ,they have to continue with it untill they do ,and some kids do apprenticeship, s after year.11

This is what it was like in my secondary. There were two streams in the same school. Those that passed the 11+ went into the grammar stream in Y7 (or first year as it was then!) but you could swap, both ways, based on end of year exam results.

And how will this help prepare our doctors of the future in the UK? How will students who want to go on to do medicine, or sciences demonstrate they have the intelligence and work ethic to be accepted by a university?

I fully agree that the school system doesn't suit everyone - but you are still suggesting a one size fits all - but making it less rigorously academic to suit SOME kids. My DS (currently working high up in engineering) would have LOATHED having to do a language up to age 18. He had to take (and failed) GCSE French. He thought it an utter waste of time studying a foreign language he had no interest in and would never use.

So. No exams until yr13?

I did mine in 1995 and don’t remember many subjects having much coursework, other than the practical ones.

Both economies mentioned here, plus Germany have very high level for maths and sciences. Unfortunately these do need to be tested and learnt with vigour.

Perhaps other subjects not so much. In the end, how do you make sure a subject is known and understood and able to be applied without an exam?

That said I do agree that the competitiveness of it all and GCSEs and A levels is insane. But it’s a sign of the globally competitive world we live in.

And this sadly is what OP does not understand. In terms of global performance, China is number 2 economy. India is taking off.

Having visited both countries there is a work ethic like nowhere else (except other Asian countries).

In China, 996 is often mentioned meaning people work from 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. It’s illegal but is very common from what I understand.

Even in the states where you get two weeks holiday a year, it’s not as hard-working as the other two.

Europe is like the sick man of work. Wants early retirement, long holidays, low pressure.

im not saying one is right or wrong but just that living in a global economy you have to realise that competition ranges globally now, and therefore our kids in the U.K. compete against the likes of Asia for some jobs. My prediction is this competition will only increase,

OP thinks from a personal level but there’s far more complexity to the subject.

For what it’s worth I think education is not effective to some extent in this country.

If we are to work when we leave, it’s not very effective at all.

So much more could be done in this area.

Yes, coursework has had it's day.

Yes i can see how that would be a problem now .

I think coursework really is a thing of the past - it was bad enough when parents and/or teachers did the work, or at least allowed several attempts at it before the final mark was achieved.
These days with AI etc, I cannot see a way in which it can be guaranteed that the work is totally that of the student.
I know it still features in some A levels, but at least some independent research and/or fieldwork is required which is harder to cheat on.

I know the grammar system has lots of critics, but in its purest form, when it was first introduced and the 'other' stream was properly supported and financed, it worked well.
Now, with the few remaining grammars resulting in such ridiculous tutoring etc, it no longer serves the purpose.
But I do feel that this sort of system needs re-examining. Maybe with a split later in the secondary years, rather than at 11, or scope to switch between the two later on.

Me too i did my GCSE,s in 1990 ,and we were told the whole point of them was so the course work reflected how you worked throughout the two years not just relying on how you performed on the day of the exam.

I went to school in the 80s when there were no Sat's or Ofsted inspections. The standards were awful. I learnt no grammar and got a big shock in year 10 when started gcse maths. Is was so much harder than our work up till that point.

For gcses there was tonnes of coursework which was stressful in its own way, especially if you were disorganised or didn't have support at home.

The grass isn't always greener.

I find this interesting because the PISA scores do have some European countries higher than England, but most of them not, we tend to be about 7th.

The dfe has said our standard pass at a 4 is a bit low to compete with our biggest rivals. It would need to be a 5 but they were looking at places like Singapore and Canada not just europe . So it doesn't look like the gcse is hugely out of kilter with international averages.

I completely agree with you. My DD did hers recently and it would’ve been better for her if she could’ve dropped some subjects to focus more on others (maths and English). She had absolutely no interest in science.

I was one of the first cohort to do GCSEs and we had coursework for English, English literature and business studies, which was much better.

I hate all the focus on academic achievement - yes it’s good for some but for those less abled it’s hard. And completely demoralising.

So every other country doesn't have people that are non academic ?
I find that hard to beleive .

He is where he is, he'll find a way forward with the right support.

Germany has two pathways but speaking to some there some feel it's early or difficult to cross over

Maybe a bit later on for here

All very true.

My son is in Yr6 and has noticed he’s doing different papers than his peers. It breaks my heart. Even with an EHCP he’s still around two years behind where he should be.

Absolutely. If you like History and want to do it as a potential plumber, fine, but the content is far too much for many students.