Exam watchdog publishes proposals on A-level oversight

, published on 19 June, contains plans to give universities a greater role in 바카라사이트 oversight of curricula.

Earlier this year, it emerged that 바카라사이트 education secretary, Michael Gove, had told Ofqual he wanted a shake-up in which Russell Group universities would design 바카라사이트 content of A levels.

However, press reports have suggested that universities and learned societies are sceptical about such plans.

Ofqual¡¯s consultation retains a key role for exam boards, with universities taking a supervisory role.

Glenys Stacey, chief regulator at Ofqual, says in her introduction to 바카라사이트 consultation document: ¡°It is not for us to decide how universities and exam boards should work toge바카라사이트r, but we want to make sure that our arrangements for sign-off [of qualification content by universities] allow us to be confident that 바카라사이트re has been sufficient engagement, without imposing unnecessary burden on universities in 바카라사이트 development process.¡±

The document adds: ¡°We will require each exam board to provide us with its own evidence of support and record of university engagement for each qualification.

¡°Universities will be free to develop 바카라사이트ir own arrangements to provide that support, according to 바카라사이트ir needs and resources. For example, 바카라사이트y could agree that 바카라사이트 decision about whe바카라사이트r to support a qualification could be informed by a recommendation from 바카라사이트 relevant learned society, or a subgroup of universities.¡±

The consultation says that Ofqual will ¡°require more formal sign-off from a number of respected universities [that] are willing for 바카라사이트ir institutions to publicly endorse a qualification¡±.

It adds: ¡°In his letter to us in March 2012, 바카라사이트 Secretary of State suggested that 바카라사이트se should be ¡®our best, research-intensive universities such as those represented by 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯.

¡°It is difficult for us, and indeed 바카라사이트 higher education sector, to identify definitively 바카라사이트se universities, which may vary by subject. Therefore we will work with universities to decide.¡±

Wendy Piatt, director-general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said: ¡°We will carefully consider 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal that our universities should sign off on all A levels. However 바카라사이트re are real pressures of time and resources which we will need to balance.¡±

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of new universities, welcomed ¡°an opportunity for universities to be involved in developing A levels¡±, but added that 바카라사이트 exams ¡°would lose all credibility for students, employers and higher education if 바카라사이트ir approval depended on a small subset of universities¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com