Children are increasingly being forced to sit GCSEs early as schools ââ¬Åplay the systemââ¬Â to boost league table rankings, it emerged today.
Growing numbers of pupils are taking exams in core subjects around Christmas ââ¬â instead of May and June ââ¬â in an attempt to maximise scores, it was revealed.
In English alone, the number of winter entries soared by more than a third this year, while maths increased by almost a quarter.
Exam boards said the trend was driven by schools entering pupils six months early to ââ¬Åbankââ¬Â a decent grade.
This gives children time to retake the exam in the summer if they fail.
The disclosure underlines the lengths to which some schools go to maximise results and climb official school league tables.
It follows a Government warning this year that schools could be closed by 2015 if they fail to ensure at least half of pupils gain five C grades ââ¬â a ââ¬Ågoodââ¬Â GCSE pass.
Critics claim the trend risks damaging childrenââ¬â¢s morale as they are forced to sit vital exams before they are ready. It can also disrupt their education in the final year of school if they are required to sit two sets of high-stakes tests instead of one.
Rest of article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...-2011-Children-forced-to-play-the-system.html
Do you agree with the critics? Why or why not?
Growing numbers of pupils are taking exams in core subjects around Christmas ââ¬â instead of May and June ââ¬â in an attempt to maximise scores, it was revealed.
In English alone, the number of winter entries soared by more than a third this year, while maths increased by almost a quarter.
Exam boards said the trend was driven by schools entering pupils six months early to ââ¬Åbankââ¬Â a decent grade.
This gives children time to retake the exam in the summer if they fail.
The disclosure underlines the lengths to which some schools go to maximise results and climb official school league tables.
It follows a Government warning this year that schools could be closed by 2015 if they fail to ensure at least half of pupils gain five C grades ââ¬â a ââ¬Ågoodââ¬Â GCSE pass.
Critics claim the trend risks damaging childrenââ¬â¢s morale as they are forced to sit vital exams before they are ready. It can also disrupt their education in the final year of school if they are required to sit two sets of high-stakes tests instead of one.
Rest of article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...-2011-Children-forced-to-play-the-system.html
Do you agree with the critics? Why or why not?
