Kids let down by A-Levels?

[samster79]

I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to education stories. I fought hard to get a decent education not just for the chance to go to Uni, and get a decent job, but as an end in itself - for the love of learning. But the system lets the kids of today down. I totally agree with Mike Baker's comments in today's Guardian. A-Levels should not just be about passing a test to get to University. University is not the 'be all and end all' and students should have a syllabus that stands them in good stead, whatever their future career or education choices. There's a campaign called 'sixth sense' on unisnotforme which is calling for a similar thing. But will the Government listen to what young people are saying or do league table figures matter more to them than the future education, prospects and happiness of our kids?

Have you got a link to the article...?

I teach A levels (in a college, so that's all I teach) and I agree that we're increasingly restricted in what we can teach. The pressure to get the results and league tables is always on us. As teachers we're constantly monitored and assessed to see how the students are doing, how many drop out, won't achieve etc etc... its all about the funding. If our success rates dip, then we lose out funding. In theory this might sound like a good idea, but in reality what it means is that we only have time to teach what's necessary (particularly because the govt are withdrawing hours, so next year I've got to teach the same material in 10 hours a week fewer than I've got this year). I just don't have time to do the interesting stuff any more.

I feel that we're increasingly pushed around by govt, league table demands, funding etc etc... all of this seems to be far more important than the actual students. It makes me very cross.

I think if universities are saying that children cannot write well'constructed, creative, original essays any more because they have been spoon-fed what must be included to pass the test - then we should be afraid. So we should be afraid now.

The problem then is - what next? Michael Gove's idea 'make A-levels harder' is bollocks. You'll just get teachers drilling to this new, higher standard. But how do you mark creative thinking and originality? One marker's creativity is another marker's bonkers nonsense.

When I did my A-levels in Holland, my Dutch essay was marked by my own teacher and also sent away to be marked by someone who did not know me, the mark was then averaged. Would that be worth a try?