THE EXAM BOARD’S VIEW
The pinch points
Those set to deliver the new GCSEs will inevitably feel under
Others will find that flexible assessment
may introduce an additional exam session
pressure. Greg Watson, chief executive of OCR, outlines
each year.
The best way to manage this is by getting
the anticipated pinch points and offers his view as to how
prepared well in advance. By doing so, the
burden will be minimised and the transition
centres could manage them
made much easier.
The final pinch point I anticipate relates
to the introduction of controlled assessment.
J
uggling a normal workload with the will need to work their way through a sea of Many see this simply as a re-badging of
challenges of preparing for forthcoming new specifications to ensure they make the coursework. However, the changes are more
GCSE changes will not be an easy task. right choice for September 2009. complex than that.
Transforming GCSEs in line with When filtering through, I would Controlled assessment brings with it
revised criteria from the Qualifications recommend studying the detail, ensuring that a new set of guidelines and boundaries.
and Curriculum Authority was quite a task. the content is interesting to learn and also to Teachers will have to take time to familiarise
Timescales were tight and the potential teach, and whether suitable support should themselves with both in order to glean the
consequences enormous. also be available. best advantage.
We were mindful of the fact that whatever Once a decision has been reached on In many cases, the burden on students and
we did would have a profound affect on the which specifications will be delivered, the teachers will be reduced, as centres may find
futures of thousands of young people. We next pinch point will come in the form of that the range of questions or tasks used is
wanted it to be more than a technical update. becoming familiar with the changes that have reduced.
As a result we have produced stimulating taken place across all GCSEs. Controlled assessment should provide
and up-to-date specifications, which teachers One positive and refreshing change will be some additional consistency and structure, as
can use to engage their learners and give the move to flexible assessment. well as a guaranteed sense of fairness.
them an excellent start in life. Flexible assessment enables schools On the other hand, it will be harder
Our experts have woven innovative and and colleges to assess their learners at the for individual students, especially highly
topical content into the specifications – from most appropriate and convenient time. It motivated ones, to pursue a personal interest,
fair trade and climate change to emigration enables learners of all levels to achieve so teachers will need to think about how to
and immigration, and crime. their full potential and therefore can only be give those students enough scope.
In addition, there is now greater choice in welcomed. While adjusting to curriculum change is
many subject areas, with schools and colleges Those centres which already assess their a challenge, it also provides a wonderful
now able to select from a range of units. learners regularly throughout the year should opportunity to reinvigorate learning.
The first pinch point I see will be for find that flexible assessment slots in well to Time invested over the next 12 months is
curriculum managers and subject heads, who their existing timetable. time well invested for the future.
4 SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION IN QUALIFICATIONS
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