26th March 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Teachers have warned that the new plans to remove AS levels from the current A-level curriculum will result in pupils avoiding tougher subjects. Head teachers’ leaders have written a letter to the Education Secretary Michael Gove telling him that these changes may result in a narrowing of the A-level curriculum. However, ministers say that the new linear style exams will increase students’ subject knowledge.
In 2015, the current modules will be scrapped and pupils will take their A-level exams at the end of the two-year course. While the AS level exam will remain, it will no longer count towards the final grade of the A-level but will be a standalone exam in its own right. This is due to the fact that Gove believes the current A-level is not rigorous enough and it does not aid students in developing a deep understanding of their subjects.
The letter, which was signed by four different associations representing head teachers from state and private schools, urged Mr Gove ‘in the strongest possible terms’ to retain the current AS level as a stepping-stone exam. They argued that many pupils use the AS level to add breadth to their learning by taking contrasting subjects alongside their main subjects while also encouraging the uptake of tougher subjects such as maths and modern languages.
Gove also sent a letter to the regulator Ofqual suggesting that although AS levels and A-levels will be completely separated, he wants their course content to be compatible. He stated that changes to the subject content of the A-level should be reflected in the design of the new standalone AS. Brian Lightman of the Association of School and College Leaders welcomed this suggestion as it would mean that both A-levels and AS levels in the same subject could be taught in the same class.