Shock of 2007

I could have fallen off my chair. Who’d have thought it? Apparently… prepare yourselves for this now… rumour has it that… are you sitting down?... it seems that this year the A-level results were the best they’ve ever been. EVER been!

OK, perhaps the magnitude of this news has been tempered by the fact that we hear this every year. Every year for twenty five years to be precise. I’d love to know what the class of ’81 did wrong that they didn’t beat the previous best. I’m thinking they spent too much time recording the top ten off the radio onto cassette for their walkmans (walkmen?)

Every year it is the same old story, and every year we hear the same arguments – the exams aren’t getting easier, just different – A-levels are more skills based than knowledge based – Standards of teaching and learning are improving year on year – blah blah blah blah blah.

It’s not that I disagree with any of the above statements. I just think that the inevitability of announcements of ‘the best ever results’ each year devalues the achievements of the pupils. I honestly believe we need to year or two where the results plateau for us to take them seriously again. Having said that I would feel terrible for whatever group of pupils it is who break the trend – they will be shunned by society no doubt.

Of more concern to me, however, is the fact that much of this year’s improvement was overwhelmingly down to private and selective schools. Now before proponents of private and selective education start rejoicing and dancing in the aisles I don’t think this is particularly good news (no, DPW, I still haven’t taken your arguments for private education on board.)

It appears to me that the achievements divide between the Private and Selective sector and the Comprehensives is growing ever more rapidly; apparently it is at its widest for more than a decade. Some commentators predict that this, already large chasm, will become an impassable canyon with the introduction of an A* grade in a few years. Despite this being wonderful news for the upper to mid middle classes living within spitting distance of a decent grammar school, it is terrible for rest of the country. This is one of the reasons I’m not a big fan of the A-level. One of many.

But this is not the time to be having a rant about the injustices of the education system. Now is the time to be congratulating those who did well in their exams this year and wishing them all the very best in whatever it is they do next.

when i'm right i'm very very right

I'm good. Real good. How long ago was it that I said we needed to rethink our A-level system? How long ago was it that I suggested an International Baccalaureate-esque programme? Just to help you out it was the 18th August.

What news do I hear today? I hear that our Prime Minister, Tony "education education education" Blair has finally done something about it. He's made a speech. Or at least, according to the news, he is going to make a speech imminently.

In a speech in Birmingham, Mr Blair will say he wants 400 academies, double the present target for the year 2010. - bbc.co.uk

But what else?

The government is expected to promote the International Baccalaureate as an alternative to A-levels in the state sector.
It may have been stuck in with all the other less interesting information about Trust Schools and City Academies but it is, nonetheless, there. Or at least it will be there. When he makes the speech that is. Mr Blair is giving a distinct nod in the direction of the IB as a means of assessment and it has made me smile.

For those who may not be familiar with the IBs they comprise six main subjects studied over two years, three studied to a higher level than the other three. There are also compulsory elements - a 4,000-word essay on a topic of the student's interest; theory of knowledge; and creativity. It is the kind of course I wish I was offered when I was 16. If I ruled the world I would make little changes; maybe merge it into year 12 work (ditching GCSEs of course) and add extra curricular elements. But I like the general principle. It's important to offer a broad education - not one that narrows and narrows until our young people start suffering tunnel vision.

When I was doing my A-levels I was convinced that I would become a scientist - after all my older siblings were all scientists. I almost decided to do just science based A-levels but opted for English Literature as well, just in case. As it turned out I was useless at science. I ended up doing an arts degree and I loved every minute of it. Where would I be if I hadn't chosen the Eng Lit A-level a decade or so ago? Why are we pigeon holing our kids at 16? Maybe we could go the whole hog and ask them what they want to be when they're 6 and shaping their education to fit. The train driver and astranaut courses would be very popular I'm sure.





So 10 years to the day since Ole Tone proclaimed that infamous three word soundbite he is finally coming round to my way of thinking on education - it's a shame it's a bit late really.