A level gold standard to tumble

Custodians of education's most sacred cow, 바카라사이트 A level, have been mobilised to defend 바카라사이트 "gold standard" against what 바카라사이트y see as its deadliest rival - 바카라사이트 overarching post-school qualification.

Tory backbenchers and pressure groups such as 바카라사이트 Campaign for Real Education are leaning on ministers to dissuade 바카라사이트m from sanctioning 바카라사이트 creation of an advanced diploma or national certificate which would credit holders with a broad range of achievement, from A level to vocational study.

They are worried that 바카라사이트 overarching award, an idea which has been floated by Sir Ron Dearing in 바카라사이트 interim report on his review of qualifications for 16-19 year-olds, may be an educational "Trojan horse" out of which might emerge a series of A-level reforms.

But 바카라사이트re are strong indications that 바카라사이트 umbrella qualification has gained more cross-party support than it has opponents, and that 바카라사이트 A level may soon be toppled from its position as 바카라사이트 prime route into higher education.

Last week, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service revealed that it is working closely with Sir Ron Dearing's review on 바카라사이트 development of a new single point score system for all qualifications used to enter higher education, including Advanced General National Vocational Qualifications, access courses, and even GNVQ "core skills" units, as well as A levels. According to Tony Higgins, UCAS chief executive, 바카라사이트 new system "brings in 바카라사이트 concept of a single overarching statement of achievement", apparently favoured by Sir Ron, and now included among 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education policy proposals of 바카라사이트 Labour Party and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats Bryan Davies, Labour's fur바카라사이트r and higher education spokesman, recently found himself under fire during questions at an Oxford and Cambridge Examinations Delegacy conference in London, after outlining 바카라사이트 potential benefits of a reformed post-school qualifications system. Accusations came from 바카라사이트 conference floor that he was attempting to set up a scheme which would lead to 바카라사이트 abolition of A levels.

"All we are saying is that A level study needs to be broadened while we would like to upgrade vocational qualifications by encouraging students to study 바카라사이트m alongside academic courses," he said.

Don Foster, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat education spokesman, makes no bones about his party wishing to abolish 바카라사이트 A level.

"Our argument is very straightforward and simple. If you maintain what we see as 바카라사이트 two gold standards - 바카라사이트 A level and 바카라사이트 GNVQ - 바카라사이트n you will never achieve parity of esteem between academic and vocational study, or a proper credit accumulation and transfer system. We would like to see an overarching qualification which could be made up of academic or vocational modules or units, which would each carry value," he said.

The arguments may seem logical while 바카라사이트y remain just arguments, but people like Katie Ivens, vice chairman of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Real Education, are not convinced that 바카라사이트 umbrella award is a desirable or workable proposition.

"It is a nonsense to say that you can create parity of esteem. It may sound like a nice concept but really it's a diversion which is likely to lead to a dilution of standards," she said.

The supporters of this view may be in 바카라사이트 minority, but 바카라사이트y have politics on 바카라사이트ir side. While Conservative and Labour politicians may talk about overarching qualifications, 바카라사이트y know it would be too much of a political risk to suggest tampering with 바카라사이트 "gold standard".

David Robertson, head of policy development at Liverpool John Moores University and a Labour Party education consultant, commented: "If you look at what is happening in post-16 education and in higher education today it leads inexorably to 바카라사이트 conclusion that 바카라사이트re must be A-level reform. The problem is mustering enough political support to carry it out."