Category Archives: 14-19

Fair fight for HE

Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley
 
 
Letter  Guardian Education  24/06/08

 

 

Mike Baker raises some important points about A-levels
 http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2285812,00.html
While it’s true that only a minority gain three grade As, the general rise in standards at A-level is to be welcomed, though it reflects a situation where more and more young people feel they have to “go to [...]

‘Desperate diplomacy’ turns to meltdown

 
Martin Allen
 
 

The Government’s attempts at implementing the specialist diplomas - the cornerstone of the 2005 14-19 White Paper - continue to stumble. Earlier this year in a  effort to restore momentum, Children, Schools and  Families minister Ed Balls announced three more additional diploma lines in humanities, science and modern languages and a new ‘extended’ diploma [...]

The Cambridge Pre-U: elitism goes marching on

Martin Allen                                                                                                                 
Post-16 Educator    March-April 2008
 

The Cambridge Pre-U, an alternative qualification to A-level, currently being piloted by schools in the Independent sector is set to receive the  backing  of  QCA, the government exam watchdog.  In contrast to the modular AS-A2 system used at A-level, the Pre-U returns to the more traditional linear approach.  With assessment of [...]

Why we need a general diploma accessible to all

 
 

Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley

The Guardian 15/04/08
 

 
The government’s new strategy for 14-19 follows the peak in numbers of 18-year-olds entering higher education (42.5% in 2005-06), along with those achieving two A-levels (34% in 2006).
 
Although more than 80% remain in full-time education for a year after the compulsory school-leaving age, increased participation has been accompanied by increased [...]

Functional for who? A quick assessment of the new functional skills

Martin Allen   
Post-16 Educator  March-April 2008

‘Functional skills’ are being piloted in 1000 schools and colleges. Part of the Tomlinson working group proposals for 14-19 education, their introduction is a response to demands from employer representative for higher standards in literacy and numeracy amongst young people. Completing functional skills will be a necessary requirement for moving on [...]

Desperate Diplomacy - Ed Balls announces more diplomas

                                                                                                                                                                      

Martin Allen 
                                                                       

Post-16 Eductor  Nov-Dec 2007 
 
 Ed Balls’ announcement of 3 new ‘subject based’ diplomas does not represent a fundamental change of heart by the Government. Neither, as Head teachers leader John Dunford correctly observes (TES, 26/10/07), does it constitute a return to the spirit of Tomlinson.  
 
As Balls’ announcement makes clear, New Labour are [...]

Learning for Labour: specialist diplomas and 14-19 education.

Martin Allen
FORUM      Vol 49  No 3   2007 
(www.wwwords.co.uk/FORUM)

 
 Despite reports of ministers wanting to delay implementation, government have given the go-ahead for 5 new specialist diplomas to begin from September 2008 in a limited number of schools and colleges. The 2006 Education Act gave young people a ‘national entitlement’ to study one of 14 vocational areas outlined [...]

A-levels: not as golden as they used to be

Martin Allen  
 Socialist  Education  Journal  No.2  Oct  06
 
 
 August brings the annual hue and cry about A-levels being too easy, with this year proving to be no exception. The London Evening Standard front paged with ‘A-grades for one in four A-levels’ while The Guardian provided a picture of  a 12 year old computer games fan, celebrating his A [...]