21st March 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Ofqual have ordered examining boards to toughen up GCSEs for four key subjects, Maths, English Literature, History and Geography, to ensure that students cover a broad range of topics within each subject. The chief executive of Ofqual, Glenys Stacey, said “we are tightening GCSEs in these key subjects to make sure students cover the whole curriculum”.
This comes shortly after the Daily Telegraph’s investigation into the difficult of exams in England, where some examination officials were recorded giving ‘unfair’ advice to teachers, and saying that the exams were easy. However, examining boards are said to have welcomed the move, and will look again at the subjects in question to ensure that they require a broad depth of knowledge for a student to be successful.
Ofqual announced that GCSE Geography will be improved for first teaching from this September, Maths from November, and English Literature and History from September 2013. A spokesman from the Department for Education said “It is vital confidence is restored in the exams system. We are committed to raising standards for all pupils. We are pleased Ofqual is taking action to ensure that GCSEs in these subjects are more challenging, requiring students to demonstrate that they have covered the whole curriculum.”
Conservative chairman of the Commons education committee Graham Stuart said: "What we've got to make sure is that we recognise the importance of qualifications but remember what they're really about, which is education in the round. And that's what we want and today's announcement should give people confidence that their children are going to be taught the whole subject - not just the bits that teachers think may come up in an exam."