Separation of Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland Proposed

Education secretary Michael Gove deems it time to have separate exams systems for GCSE and A-levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mr Gove has already written to his counterparts in the two countries regarding the proposal. He mentions in his letter how the differences in structure, grading and content of these qualifications are becoming so significant that a split must occur.

He proposes reforms that will result to exams so different from those called in the same name across the three countries that it would be better to create separate exams having different titles to avoid confusion between different sets of tests sat by pupils in each country. It is also seen as a measure to prevent English schools from implementing less rigorous exams in a bid to improve their position in league tables, amid criticisms from several sectors.

In a move to dispute claims the existing exams are too easy for pupils to pass, Mr Gove has unveiled measures to “toughen up” both qualifications, including scrapping coursework-patterned tasks and tiered papers in GCSEs and the end of AS-level exams sat by pupils in the first 12 months of an A-level course. Reports have also surfaced suggesting that the existing grading system for GCSE may be discontinued and replaced with a points system similar to that in the US.

The current system has GCSE and A-level exams that are regulated by different exam boards in each nation that are supposed to keep them broadly comparable to each other. Scotland does not figure in the discussion as it has a different set of qualifications in place that can allow pupils to gain entry to higher education institutions in other regions.

The initiative has met negative reactions widely. In Wales, education minister Leighton Andrews insists their country will not adopt these reforms. In Northern Ireland, education minister John O’Dowd revealed plans for making interim changes to A-levels taken in the country. He is also considering revising both A-levels and GCSEs in the long term.

Do you think it would benefit students to make changes to qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and call them by a different name? Let us know your opinion by leaving a comment below.