RADICAL changes to the GCSE grading system have been met with a mixed reaction in the county.
Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has suggested top GCSE marks of A* and A could be replaced by a one-to-four numerical scale. On Wednesday, he told MPs it could be one option to distinguish between high-achieving candidates.
Gloucester's King's School headteacher Alistair Macnaughton has welcomed the suggestion. He said: "While many teachers are irritated by Michael Gove's very hasty, and not always properly considered, reforms, I think there is a eneral feeling that assessment at GCSE in particular does need to be changed.
"My own view is that a system which differentiates within the top bands of A and A* is a completely logical response to the grade inflation which has undermined many people's confidence in the integrity of the grades. Obviously, we need to hear more about Gove's plans and, if recent history is anything to go by, they may end up being watered down following the consultation which now needs to take place. However, a one to four system to replace A and A* seems sensible to me and would, I think, be broadly welcomed by independent schools generally."
However, Cheltenham's All Saints Academy principal Peter Kingham said: "Probably like most headteachers, I am totally fed up with Mr Gove meddling with the education system on an hour-by-hour basis. Does he not realise that up and down the country students are currently sitting GCSEs and announcements like these just stress them even more? It is about time Mr Gove allowed one set of changes to have impact before starting another load."
