A national task force in England last week proposed an overhaul of education for students 14 to 19 that鈥檚 designed to improve career education, stretch more able students, and reduce the testing burden.
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The final report of the Working Group on 14-19 Reform, headed by Mike Tomlinson, a former chief inspector of schools, calls for a new diploma system, to be devised over the next decade, that would recognize increasingly sophisticated levels of accomplishment: 鈥渆ntry,鈥� 鈥渇oundation,鈥� 鈥渋ntermediate,鈥� and 鈥渁dvanced.鈥�
The changes would only apply in England and not to students in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
The diplomas would replace existing exams and qualifications for 14- to 19-year-olds, although much of their content would be retained as components of the new system but with less external assessment.
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U.S. and U.K. Educators Tackle Issues Common to Urban High Schools
Under the new system, young people could choose an 鈥渙pen鈥� diploma with a mix of subjects, similar to those taken by many secondary students today. Alternatively, they could choose a diploma specializing in an employment sector or an academic discipline. Students might, for example, opt for an engineering diploma, a languages and literature diploma, or a science and mathematics diploma.
Teenagers would continue to study national curriculum subjects. And all students would have to pass tests in three core skills needed for the workplace: literacy, math, and information and communications technology.
But most of a young person鈥檚 time would be spent pursuing his or her particular area of interest. Every student also would have to complete an extended project.
The changes are meant to address several concerns about England鈥檚 system of secondary education, including the low percentage of youths who continue their learning beyond the compulsory age of 16; business complaints that too few young people are properly equipped for work; and complaints from university officials that they cannot distinguish between the many students earning A鈥檚 on the nation鈥檚 primary college-entrance exams. (鈥淓ngland Sets Sights on Secondary Schools,鈥� May 5, 2004.)
鈥楾ale of Two Halves鈥�
Jane Benham, the division manager for the examinations system and 14-19 reform unit in England鈥檚 Department for Education and Skills, described the situation as a 鈥渢ale of two halves,鈥� with 51 percent of students ages 14 to 19 now earning the necessary qualifications to pursue further education and training, and 49 percent leaving school without those qualifications.
The proposals were welcomed both by Universities UK, an umbrella group representing higher education institutions, and secondary school head teachers.
鈥淭he proposals offer the opportunity for universities to draw from a wider pool of well-qualified candidates from all sections of society,鈥� said Ivor Crewe, the president of Universities UK. 鈥淭he report has also tackled the difficult problem of how universities can differentiate between the most able candidates, which has been a growing concern.鈥�
The report proposes eight different grades for the advanced-level qualifications, including an A++ for the top 5 percent of students. Transcripts also would contain more information, such as whether a student has significantly outperformed others from a similar background or school.
The Secondary Heads Association particularly welcomed proposals to place more trust in the professional judgment of classroom teachers to carry out internal assessments, as part of the system.
鈥淪econdary school leaders strongly support the Tomlinson recommendations,鈥� said John Dunford, the general secretary for the association, 鈥渨hich will create a stronger, more coherent qualifications structure, raise the esteem of vocational awards, and reduce the burden of external examinations.鈥�
