U-Turn on Out of Touch Exam Plans

Last week month Michael Gove, the Tory Education Secretary, announced his plans to take our education system back in time with a return to the two-tier exam system of O-levels and CSEs.

These proposals are wrong because they would create a system whereby children at only 14 years old are divided into winners or losers.

Gove failed to explain how his proposed return to O-levels for some and CSEs for the rest would improve standards for everyone. Yet another case of an out of touch, incompetent Government making the wrong choices.

But now the Tories look set for another U-turn after Labour and others opposed their plans. This U-turn will be welcomed by parents, teachers and students in Wigan  – but they will be left totally confused about what exams will be taken in 2015.

Lisa Nandy said:

“I want to see a curriculum that’s robust, rigorous and broad and an exam system that parents, pupils and employers can trust. We need reform, but it has got to work for all children in all schools.

With Britain in a double-dip recession and youth unemployment sky high, the priority has to be improving standards for all, including access to the creative or innovative learning that is necessary for the modern world of work. Young people need a broad education, not a narrow one.

This Government is too out of touch to give Britain the change of direction it needs. Without a change of course soon, on major policies like education and the economy, young people will be paying for the Government’s mistakes for years to come.”