GCSE Pass Grade Confusion

I wish our leaders will just call a spade indeed a spade. I've read that letter by JG, thanks for that trout. Lots of waffle about 'standard pass' and 'strong pass'. Reading between the lines, as a top university or employer, I would be recruiting only those who get a strong pass I.e a 5. A standard pass, though cleverly worded, sounds like a euphemism for weak pass. Why can't we just one grade equivalent to a 'pass'.

I don't think that's quite right steppemum

JG sneaked this in in March... (wasn't widely reported though.. funny that)-

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/603594/ESC_letter.pdf

So according to that letter, pass/c is a 4 and will remain that for the purposes of moving on to HE

But ..I don't believe a word that comes out of any of the governments mouths ATM.. so watch this space ... no doubt they will move the goal posts again.

well in the past you needed to pass your GCSE in order to do the A level in it (OK in some cases they asked for a higher grade, but the principle is same)
Also for many Further Ed /university courses it is a requirement for you to have grade C in Maths and English.
Our local sixth form college has a group every year retaking their Maths and English.

eg to be a teacher, you need 3 A levels plus GCSE Maths and English at grade C. So if you take you GCSEs now, get a grade 4, don't retake, do your A levels and apply to teaching, you may suddenly find they are asking for grade 5 in GCSE Maths and English, and you didn't retake and up your grade, and you only have a grade 4.

So, that disctinction between and 4 and 5 could be crucial.

Given all that I have read about the new Maths, it seems as if it is really hard anyway, and so many kids may find themselves in this position

So this will have an effect for kids sitting this year.

To get into Uni candidates are expected to have passed Maths, English and Science at GCSE (grade 4) and have A levels at specified grades for course applied for. I am secondary teacher and using this new system and we have been told grade 4 for at least a couple of years before more change. A levels/Btecs etc taken in Sixth Form will determine University entry requirements.

Steppemum - thanks for explaining that. However, no one with those grades I.e the new number system will be entering university this year though, so what's all the angst amongst the top Unis trying to differentiate themselves? Or is the numerical grading system going to be used for grading this years A'Levels? In which case I u derstand.

sigh
I can spell, I just can't type

ds is 14 and year 9. We had a talk from school about the new system. I also did a bit of research on it to try and understand it.

This seems to be the gist of it.

The reason for bringing in the whole new system, frem NC changes in primary right through to GCSE is to raise standards. This is exlicitly stated in various places.

So, the old grade C is equivalent to the grade 4. BUT because the givernment thinks that that levelis too low for our 'pass' mark, and it want to raise standards, it will be raiseing that pass level to grade 5.
So, this year, the first year of grade 4 etc they will let the pas be grade 4, with the expectation that it will change to a 5 shortly.

That means that soon (not that no time llines are in any of this) to be considered to have a maths and English GCSE, you will need that at grade 5, even though that is a higher level than grade C.

So that's all as clear as mud then

Sorry about the typos.

How bloody confusing and what is a 'Pass' I.e a 4 and a 'Strong pass', a 5? It's so convoluted. Does anyone also agree that those applying to the likes of UCL, Imperial etc are unlikely to be struggling to get a 5 anyway. I can't see ow they have interpreted a C as equivalent to a 5 when it's clear from JG's statement hat it is meant to be a 4? Why is she not querying the individual nversiies over his? Can units just decide what heir own equivalents are?

It does say universities were sometimes asking for Bs before so not as bad as it makes out. I do think this whole system was rushed in and I'll thought out though. Some of the changes to subjects are massive

Our school has been warning us about this for the last 2 years - but clearly unable to do anything about it.

This is all such a mess, I feel for our poor DC's.