1st July 2015 3:00
By Blue Tutors
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced plans to raise the score required for a “good pass” in the new GCSEs. As of 2017 grades will switch to a number scale, and students will have to obtain a Grade 5. This is equivalent to a low B or high C in the current grading system. At present, a C grade is considered a “good pass”. The plan is designed to raise academic standards in line with Finland and the Netherlands, countries which produce some of the best results in the world.
The new grading system will replace the current GCSE marking of A to G with a new nine to one scale. The new, “more rigorous” GCSEs are due to be introduced into classroom teaching this September, and are designed to reveal differences in candidates at the top end. Under the new system, pupils will take a range of compulsory subjects, including English, Maths, Science, History or Geography, and a language as standard. In addition to the introduction of the new GCSEs, the government had employed a behavioural specialist to make recommendations regarding disruptive behaviour in classrooms.
The government has said that the new GCSE will raise standards and allow students exposure to the subjects they require in order to reach their potential and make them attractive candidates for universities and employers. In addition to the new GCSEs, the government had stated the importance of ensuring that teachers are equipped to deal with behavioural difficulties in classrooms. They cited studies which show that behaviour management is excellent in some schools and poor in others, with little parity in the level of training teachers receive in this area. They concluded that a more rigorous qualification paired with better training on behaviour and classroom management would raise the standard of education in England.