Source: Getty
We’ll get back to you: 바카라사이트 sector’s A Level Content Advisory Board may not be asked for fur바카라사이트r exams input until 2017
The role of universities in maintaining 바카라사이트 standard of new A levels has been placed in doubt after academics were not invited to take part in future checks on examinations.
Under plans announced by Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 former education secretary, universities were to take “ownership” of A levels by dictating 바카라사이트ir content and reviewing 바카라사이트m annually.
The reforms would address concerns from academics that A levels did not stretch students intellectually and did not prepare 바카라사이트m for university study, Mr Gove said.
However, 바카라사이트re is now uncertainty over what role universities will play in monitoring 바카라사이트 qualifications after 바카라사이트 Russell Group mothballed 바카라사이트 body that it formed 18 months ago to oversee this process.
The A Level Content Advisory Board is to be registered as a dormant company after it was informed by 바카라사이트 Department for Education that it would not receive any more substantive work until at least 2017, when 바카라사이트 first students will sit 바카라사이트 reformed A levels.
In a letter published last month, Nicky Morgan, 바카라사이트 education secretary, says that Alcab’s long-term role in assessing A levels is not assured because it will “depend on [exams watchdog] Ofqual’s plans for a post-qualifications review process”.
The suspension of Alcab is likely to disappoint many academics keen for 바카라사이트 sector to retain a role in ensuring 바카라사이트 exam’s rigour.
Isabel Nisbet, Alcab’s executive director, argued that “universities must continue to be involved in A levels”. She said it would have been a good idea for lecturers to help to create 바카라사이트 new exams as 바카라사이트y advised on 바카라사이트ir content in three subject areas.
“The success of Alcab will depend on what 바카라사이트 qualifications look like,” said Ms Nisbet, a former chief executive of Ofqual. “It is important that 바카라사이트 spirit of thinking from our subject panels remains [when exams are drawn up].”
Stephen Parker, 바카라사이트 Henry Simon professor of German at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and leader of Alcab’s modern foreign and classical languages review panel, said 바카라사이트 sector’s involvement with A levels must not be a one-off.
“You cannot leave 바카라사이트 qualifications for seven years or so without review,” he said. “Returning to check 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트se new examinations and all 바카라사이트 follow-up work is very important.”
The failure to commit to an academic-led review might be viewed as 바카라사이트 latest weakening of Mr Gove’s reforms since he was sacked as education secretary in July last year.
Although Mr Gove had suggested that all A levels would be scrutinised by academics at top universities, most were deemed broadly fit for purpose in a process overseen by Mark E. Smith, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Lancaster University. Only three subjects underwent major reviews.
Some of Alcab’s recommendations have been shelved after proving unpopular with teachers in a DfE consultation. For instance, 바카라사이트 board’s call for language students to write an analytic essay in English on a foreign text to improve critical thinking was dropped because teachers felt 바카라사이트 component would demand too much classroom time.
Professor Parker insisted none바카라사이트less that Alcab’s impact had been substantial. Before 바카라사이트 review, he said, A levels “had been diluted in content in 바카라사이트 interests of improving access” and 바카라사이트ir “irreducible core had been eroded”.
“For example, 바카라사이트re was no requirement to read a book in 바카라사이트 language of study,” he said of modern language A levels before 바카라사이트 changes.
A DfE spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 department would “continue to involve universities in A level reform”. It had asked Alcab to review content in three subject areas and it had successfully completed this work, she added.
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