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Original poster

The IGCSE Unfairness from Gove

82 replies

LuluJakey1 · 14/06/2014 21:15

For years, Tories have hailed the IGCSEs that public schools do, as much harder than the GCSEs that state schools do. They held them up as evidence of the academic rigour and high standards of public schools.

Now that state schools have been allowed to do them and they count in school league tables, what has emerged is that lots of schools are opting for them because actually, they are much less onerous, have less content, are very predictable and said schools are doing extremely well with them, as well as if not better than many public schools.

My friend mole at the DFE tells me that, surprise , surprise, Mr Gove will reverse his decsision of a couple of years ago and announce, in the near future, that IGCSE English and IGCSE Maths will no longer be allowed to count in state school league tables from summer 2016.

However, public schools, which are not restricted, will still be able to take them and count them in their results.

Who says the Tories are not elitist and don't favour the already privileged!

OP posts:
TheWordFactory · 14/06/2014 22:43

Well to be fair lulu state schools have had the freedom to get their pupils to take linear GCSEs for a long time- which would have adequately challenged IGCSEs.

But most didn't.

They opted for the modular, resiterama that was on offer!

They've only jumped ship because they're no longer available and are now hoping IGCSE helps out...

AuntieStella · 14/06/2014 22:41

Independent schools used chose to use them mainly because they have always been by final exam and because the choice of texts was more flexible.

State schools moved over to them in larger numbers because the permission to include them in league tables coincided with the shenanigans over grade boundaries, as the IGCSE was not affected.

Original poster
LuluJakey1 · 14/06/2014 22:40

My objection is not to the freedom independent schools have, it is to the power a twat like Gove has to inflict his madness on state school children when he knows nothing about state school education.

OP posts:
Original poster
LuluJakey1 · 14/06/2014 22:38

Not at all. That is exactly my point. Independent schools can do as they like.

Children whose parents can not pay for those schools- or would not on a point of principle- suffer the ludicrous, ill- informed Gove inflicting an education on them.

They will have to take Gove's new GCSE's, designed specifically to stop as many children gaining C+ grades; as many state school children that is.

OP posts:
TheWordFactory · 14/06/2014 22:33

Sorry OP but your post is full of nonsense.

  1. Lots of schools are not opting for IGCSES. What is your definition of a lot? A few have tyo avoid Gove's endless interventions.
  1. The IGCSEs do not have less content (I have twins, one taking IGCSE, one taking ordinary).
  1. They're not easier per se. I would say they are marginally easier to get a C (now modules are abolished), but the grade boudaries make it harder to get an A*. Tghis is why the state schools that have adopted them have tended to do it for the C/D grade students.
  1. Many independent schools which use IGCSE have no interest in the C/D students: they are selective so it's not an issue.
  1. Many selective indepenedent schools do not rise or fall on thie GCSE results! League tables at that stage are of minor importance. They rise and fall on the A level results and, perhaps more importantly, the leaver destination results. If these schools feel the IGCE is better prep for the latter, they will continue, whatever Mr Gove, or you, or the man next door says Grin.
BigBirdFlies · 14/06/2014 22:23

I think the dfe league tables include both state and private schools. When iGCSE's were not counted, some very highly achieving independent schools came bottom of these tables, but their reputation was such that they didn't care.

There are all sorts of other made up league tables invented by newspapers, perhaps these are the tables you are referring to?

OddSins · 14/06/2014 22:20

Your missing the point.

The independent sector is independent of government. Gove cannot tell their children what exams they can or cannot do. Many don't even submit academic results for league tables.

I think you may be right about the IGCSE English but the GCSE one is hardly challenging for many students either.