Let us know if you think A-levels should be scrapped - vote in our poll
Rishi Sunak has announced his plans to scrap A-level exams and introduce a new education system where children will be forced to study Maths and English until the age of 18 - and we want to know what you think.
The current qualification will reportedly be reformed with a new style known as the Advanced British Standard (ABS), which merges A-levels and technical T-levels to create the “best education system in the western world”. After completing their GCSEs, sixth formers will be required to study five subjects which will be divided into US-style 'majors' and 'minors'. They will have to study three ‘major’ subjects and two ‘minors’. Every student will study Maths and English in some form up to the age of 18.
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference yesterday (October 4), the PM said: “A-level students generally only do three subjects compared to the seven studied by our economic competitors. Our 16 to 19-year-olds spend around a third less time in the classroom than some of our competitors. The Advanced British Standard will change that too, with students typically studying five subjects and thanks to the extra teaching time we are introducing, the great breadth won’t come at the expense of depth which is such a strength of our system.”
However, the Department for Education has said the new qualification won't come into force until the late 2030s. Whitehall officials have previously criticised the plans and claimed schools don’t need further charges after a period of severe disruption in recent years. This comes as children have already been hit by the impact of Covid, strikes and crumbling RAAC concrete.
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, branded the government “out of touch”, adding: “There are so many immediate crises that schools are currently dealing with, from recruitment and retention, to crumbling school buildings and the lack of support for pupils with SEND. The government should be focusing on fixing those, not announcing yet another round of seismic changes to exams and qualifications."
Out of touch Rishi Sunak doesn't regularly read papers or online news sites
In 2021, the EDSK education thinktank confirmed that A-levels were too narrow and said the system should be replaced with a three-year “baccalaureate” which includes all academic, applied and technical courses, reports the Guardian. It said that pupils should be required to study English and Maths up to the age of 18, similar to other developed nations.
A study by the UCL Institute of Education also shows that studying subjects included in the English Baccalaureate provides students with greater opportunities in further education and increases the likelihood that a pupil will stay on in full-time education.
Around half of 18-year-olds in England take A-level qualifications, where students typically sit exams in three subjects. The new system would see young people retain more breadth in their studies. Following Mr Sunak’s latest announcement, we want to know if you support the changes to A-levels. Vote in our poll to have your say.
The Mirror will also be discussing the topic with you in the comments section below and you can join in! All you have to do is sign up, submit your comment, register your details and then you can take part.
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