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Original poster

Exam boards investigation

16 replies

joshandjamie · 09/12/2011 14:06

I can't see a thread on this story.

The story seems to have been knocked off top spot due to Euro news but it has left me feeling pretty shocked. I have very little knowledge on the UK education system (not from this country). I stupidly thought that exams were set by a central body. I had no idea that there are different examining bodies and that they try to make the exams easier to attract more schools to use their papers (so that the schools get better exam results).

How are we supposed to know if our kids are actually getting a decent education? How on earthy is Britain meant to stay globally competitive if it is churning out a bunch of ignoramuses?

OP posts:
IndigoBell · 09/12/2011 14:10
Shock
littleducks · 09/12/2011 14:14

Sounds like it all went downhill when it was taken over by Pearson (take note MNHQ)

I really feel for the kids taking exams with this going on, its not their fault but their efforts wont be recognised.

bobthebuddha · 09/12/2011 14:50

Well it's ironic that our kids' ability to compete globally is being undermined by the competitive market mantra? A race to the bottom in the name of profits for individual exam boards. I hope this gives the 'competition drives standards' folk pause for thought.

If was being cynical, OP, I'd posit that there hasn't been more outrage on here is less because of the stories & more because Pearson didn't take over pre-1997 or post 2010....from what I understand any exam board privatisation only took place during a Labour govt. But perhaps someone can correct me & blame the Tories instead Smile

roundcornsilkvirgin · 09/12/2011 15:19
Jux · 09/12/2011 15:48

When I was doing O levels (nearly 40years ago) there were two exam boards, Oxbridge and London. It was common knowledge that the clever guys in the top stream got the Oxbridge board papers and the rest got London. This is nothing new.

I wonder whether this is really a fuss about nothing. There are accusations every year that exams are being dumbed down. From what I've seen, they are presented differently and require a different style of answer; as to actual content, I don't know. How do you compare exams from the 60s to exams now? Most subjects will have moved on enormously, sciences in particular, but maths too, geography will have changed a great deal, and even English, while some classic texts will still be taught, there will be many new ones, and different approaches to the use of language.

OP, I wouldn't worry about it. If you keep in touch with your kids' teachers and schools, and find out what they are learning you will notice gaps if there are any and either talk to the school or fill them in yourself.

TalkinPeace2 · 09/12/2011 16:17

Nuffield Board science exams came out in the 1960's
Cambridge Board exams were around in the 1970's
each of the top Universities had exam boards

it is VERY concerning though that examiners are conniving with some teachers with the result that children are not being taught the whole syllabus

mumzy · 11/12/2011 14:15

I think this pretty much confirms what a lot of people think is happening to the UK educational system: dumbed down so everyone gets a good grade on paper creating a feel good factor and ensuring political parties are reelected. However the problem is our dc's education is a farce. Their level of knowledge is suffering and we as a nation are not going to be able to compete in the near future. Our jobs market is international and our dc will have to look beyond The UK for jobs a nd experience. They need to be educated to standards which are equivalent of other leading nations if we are to maintain our present lifestyles . Languishing somewhere in the middle of the international league tables as we are doing now is indicative of how far our educational standards have been dumbed down in the past decade. Why this hasn't made it into the education section for debate is beyond me. We should be more worried about this than whether our dc go to comp, grammar or private.

Original poster
joshandjamie · 11/12/2011 16:20

my thinking exactly mumzy

OP posts:
amerryscot · 11/12/2011 16:58

There is, imo, a race to the bottom. Each awarding body is competing for business and they want their portfolio of exams to be as attractive as possible to schools.

However, there is also the QCA and Mr Gove, who every so often, adjust the system to put everyone back on a level playing field.

I have been to lots of training courses with the awarding body I use, and everytime someone complains about the course content or the assessment procedures, the awarding body blames the QCA.

I have never been to a training course where information about forthcoming exams was revealed. But the point of training is to be in the best possible position to help your own students get maximum marks. In the training, they will tell us what the examiner is looking for in the answers.

I always find these training courses very reassuring. The communication is definitely two-way, with the examiner taking on board the concerns of teachers as much as disseminating their own information.

Pixel · 11/12/2011 17:40

Usually the Daily Mash makes me laugh but in this case it's a bit too close to the truth!

MrsCog · 11/12/2011 17:56

Everything went particularly downhill when Pearson were allowed to take over Edexcel which brought the commercial pressure in. The other awarding bodies are owned differently/have some sort of charitable status (they are not charities per say but have to meet charitable aims). Also, QCA (who no longer exist), in the name of fairness brought in much more standardisation of exam content and rules on access there by promoting fairness, which also, combined with the modularisation of exams has led to better results year on year.

FantasticVoyage · 11/12/2011 23:17

What's interesting about this whole story is that in the past writers from the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and assorted other loudmouths have had us believe that exams getting easier was some sort of leftie plot.

Now that the culprit turns out to have been the free market, they've gone a bit quiet on that front.

bobthebuddha · 12/12/2011 12:06

Err, FantasticVoyage it was the Telegraph that broke the story....

FantasticVoyage · 12/12/2011 22:03

Yes, I know.

AngusOg · 15/12/2011 18:54

I think this pretty much confirms what a lot of people think is happening to the UK educational system

There is no such thing as the 'UK educational system' - the four countries that make up the UK have separate and distict educational systems. Scotland had ONE exam board.

This story is about the ENGLISH educational system and its multitude of exam boards.

And breathe :-)

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