A third of teachers do not support new-look GCSEs, TES poll finds
Of the 500 teachers and head teachers questioned, 32 per cent said they did not support the changes to the GCSE qualifications, while 15 per cent replied saying they had not yet made up their mind.
The new-look GCSEs will see a larger emphasis on exams, with the students assessed almost entirely through end of year tests. A new grading system will also be introduced, using a numerical system from 1-9 instead of the traditional A-C system.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT teaching union, believes the new GCSEs do not meet the needs of all learners, and by being narrowly focused will not “provide the basis for a rounded education”.
Peter Kent, president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), believes there is a feeling in the profession that there has been too much change. He said: “Teachers are looking at yet another set of changes with a sense of weariness and caution. There’s a sense of innovation fatigue and a need for a period of stability.”
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