Anyone else think this is a rubbish idea?

[FuzzyWizard]

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11065934/Ofsted-will-mark-down-schools-that-refuse-to-teach-all-pupils-five-core-GCSEs-Tories-pledge.html

Why do 100% of students have to be entered for these subjects for a school to be good? If it's so important why not just make it compulsory and have done with it? What's the justification for not making these subjects part of the national curriculum until 16? Seeing as the curriculum was only just reviewed I'm assuming they had good reasons not to make languages for example compulsory for all... There were calls for it. So why now penalise schools for not making all students do languages?

"Head teachers who ignore the system will be penalised by Ofsted". Well if there's a penalty attached aren't they kind contra ditching themselves and saying it's 'compulsory' then? .

Personally I agree that they should be compulsory, but the government always like to hedge their bets carefully so they don't piss people off...and lose the next election! They do the same with the health system, saying GPs should all do one thing but it's still optional.........

I think maybe the Government stitched themselves up a kipper with Academies. The created the agreement which said something like having to offer a broad and balanced curriculum but nothing about what subjects. They cannot now make them compulsory for all because of that. So, to say, Ofsted will shaft you if you don't is the only way to wield this sort of power.

Stupid woman, stupid policy.
Our kids deserve better than this stupid sausage factory approach to education.
Just what teachers need, a room full of kids who hate the subject, trying to drag them through a GCSE. What a complete waste of time.

Once again, this government seems to think every student has the ability and interest in these subjects...

Trouble with this list is that it's more than 5 subjects: most pupils take both English language and Literature, Maths, Double Science so adding both a language and either History or Geography makes 7 GCSEs and very little choice for dcs whose ability or interest lies elsewhere.
There's a need for more flexibility with these subjects imo so that dcs who are talented at Science can take Triple Science or computer science instead of a language or Hist/Geography; pupils who are good at humanities can take both these subjects (or others not on this list) and pupils who are good at languages can take e.g. both French and German without the school being penalised. The definition of a humanity should be broadened so that RS and Economics are also included.
And what about the creative subjects e.g. music, art and design - a lot of hard work and yet dismissed by the recent government.
I don't think this policy will win many votes from parents or teachers.

Exactly crazymum. In my school (faith school) full course RS is compulsory too, as is statistics. Students only do 11 in total so they would only get 2 options and only one for Triple Science or computer science students. Where do the arts fit into that? Why continue with the illusion of "choice" in 14-16 education at all?

DS2's school is now starting 'options' in Year 9, though with a distinct lack of options.

He has been told he's doing Maths, Statistics, Eng Lang, Eng Lit, Separate Sciences and French to GCSE level. Also, RS and PE, without an exam. He got to choose between History and Geography and then gets one completely free choice. He has chosen Computer Science which means at 13, he will never have a lesson in drama, music, art or technology again.

Arts aren't considered educational at all. No value is placed on them.

Who the hell decided which subjects are considered academically worthy in the first place? Why is someone good at Geography considered better than someone good at Dance? Both require effort, discipline, learning, practice & skill. Why is French better than Food Tech and Science better than Music?

To make this compulsory I suspect that they would have to change primary legislation and that they will not and cannot do before the election. However if they instruct Ofsted to pay appropriate attention then it can happen overnight. It obviously cannot happen overnight as schools will have already made all the arrangements for lessons for this academic year but it is giving a very clear message to schools for the 2015-16 academic year.