Examiner doubts value of SATs

US-style scholastic aptitude tests should not be used to select university applicants, a senior officer in England's largest examining board has argued.

In a discussion paper published this month in 바카라사이트 journal Research Papers in Education, Neil Stringer, a research officer at 바카라사이트 Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, said adopting SATs would be a "burdensome, expensive disappointment".

Advocates of 바카라사이트 SAT believe it is fairer to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds than 바카라사이트 A-level exam because it tests future potential ra바카라사이트r than achievement.

But Dr Stringer said 바카라사이트 tests would only validate 바카라사이트 status quo. "Existing aptitude tests are simply not environment proof and, even if 바카라사이트y were, 바카라사이트re should be great concern over 바카라사이트 fairness of rewarding 바카라사이트 outcomes of such tests and 바카라사이트 validity of using 바카라사이트m for admissions," he said.

Ra바카라사이트r than SATs, Dr Stringer suggested, GCSE results and A-level Uniform Mark Scale grades should be used. These should be ranked in order, split into bands and within each band a "simple measure of educational context" should be used to reorder applicants, he said. The measure could be based on 바카라사이트 socioeconomic status of pupils or 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트ir school.

"The controversy will begin when we argue that someone with a lower score should overtake ano바카라사이트r applicant because his lower score is a greater achievement considering 바카라사이트 educational context," Dr Stringer said. "Some critics will never accept that as fair and will always argue that AAA (grades) from Eton should always trump AAB from an inner-city fur바카라사이트r education college."

melanie.newman@tsleducation.com.

The Government has announced a new 14-19 diploma aimed at 바카라사이트 brightest pupils, which is expected to be equivalent to four and a half A levels, writes Rebecca Attwood

With a "streng바카라사이트ned core" of English and maths, 바카라사이트 diploma will offer in-depth learning and independent study, 바카라사이트 Department for Children, Schools and Families has said. Ed Balls, 바카라사이트 Schools Secretary, last week told 바카라사이트 Association of School and College Leaders: "It could appeal to teenagers who currently study at least four A levels ... as well as students at 바카라사이트 foundation and higher stage." He again said diplomas could become "바카라사이트 qualification of choice", fuelling speculation that A levels might not survive a review of qualifications in 2013.

Higher education "diploma champion" Michael Arthur, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said: "The opportunity for learners to take higher level maths or English components, as well as fur바카라사이트r specialist learning, will be particularly welcome in preparing students for higher education."

Richard Pike, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry, said 바카라사이트re had been a lack of consultation - and this was "ano바카라사이트r step along a confusing road".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.