14th October 2015 5:00
By Blue Tutors
Schools inspection organisation Ofsted have said that the government’s policy to require all students to sit GCSEs in core academic subjects is problematic for some students. The head of Ofsted Michael Wilshaw has said that the government’s policy to force students to take GCSEs in English, Science, Maths, a modern language and either History or Geography is hindering students who would be better suited to vocational courses. He cited the introduction of the Ebacc qualification which has a strong academic focus, and questioned whether this is the best option for students who want to pursue apprenticeships when they leave school. The Ebacc, he argued, would leave little room for students to explore vocational subjects more suited to their needs.
Education secretary Nicky Morgan has said that she wants all pupils to study five traditional, academic subjects in order to ensure that all students received a ‘rigorous’ academic education. The Conservative party has also introduced a policy which states that schools in which 100% of students are not studying the full five academic subjects at GCSE cannot obtain Ofsted’s top score of ‘outstanding’. The government has said that the policy should ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are not put off studying academic subjects. However, concerns have been raised that the lack of flexibility will disadvantage students who do not wish to pursue the academic route.
Michael Wilshaw told the Times Educational Supplement that the requirements of the Ebacc were not suitable for all pupils. The Association of School and College Leaders has raised similar concerns, and said that a recent survey conducted on behalf of the union found that nearly 90% of head teachers disagreed with making these subjects compulsory for all pupils. General secretary of the union Brian Lightman said that it was unfair to take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to education. He raised concerns that creative and vocational subjects such as Art, Music and Design and Technology would be squeezed out of the curriculum.