• English GCSE mismatch puts university offers at risk

    Pupils are in danger of missing out on higher education due to a “mismatch” between university expectations and the new GCSE reforms, Schools Week has learned. Schools were previously judged on pupils’ achievements in English language at GSCE level, but this year’s changes to the exams now see English literature used as an equal mark…

    5.00 Sep. 25th, 2017 | News

  • GCSE English and maths requirement blamed for 'cliff-edge drop' in early years recruitment

    The low number of pupils achieving a GCSE in English and maths has been blamed for a recruitment crisis in early years education. Experts say that rules introduced in September 2014 that require early years’ educators to have a C or above in GCSE English and maths have caused a “cliff-edge drop” in the number…

    5.00 Dec. 3rd, 2016 | News

  • GCSE resits soar as students rush to last-chance retakes

    The number of students taking GCSE resits in English and maths has soared by nearly a quarter as youngsters rush to seize the penultimate chance to retake exams before the new grading system is introduced. Figures published by Ofqual today show the overall entry for resits in GCSE English, English language and maths rose from…

    15.04 Dec. 1st, 2016 | News

  • GCSE resit changes cost schools £6 million

    Schools and colleges have lost almost £6 million in funding this year as a result of new rules around GCSE English and maths resits. More than £5.9 million of “adjustments” have been made to this year’s funding allocations in more than 290 schools, sixth-form colleges and university technical colleges, with some losing six-figure sums. Under…

    5.00 Nov. 25th, 2016 | News

  • A lack of fluent thinking

    There are not enough teachers to teach the mandatory Ebacc modern foreign language. In the spirit of détente, Leora Cruddas puts forward three steps that could bridge the gap Bonjour. Guten Tag. Buenos dias. Welcome to the future of foreign language teaching. It is a future that will be shaped by the government’s aim that…

    6.00 May. 1st, 2016 | Opinion

  • Nobody puts EAL in the corner

    A DfE-convened national working party on English as an additional language is long overdue. Practitioners, researchers and the subject association NALDIC should all be involved to set a strategic direction for EAL, writes Diane Leedham   They don’t seek it here, they don’t seek it there, the DfE seeks it – nowhere. Is it in…

    14.00 Apr. 23rd, 2016 | Opinion

  • 'Schools Week hasn’t done the maths on commas'

    It isn’t unreasonable to expect an 11-year-old to use a comma as a thousands separator – this is a policy that has been made clear since the sample tests were published in July 2015 I am under no illusion that year 6 teachers have an extra challenge this year preparing for the new Key Stage…

    6.00 Feb. 5th, 2016 | Opinion

  • English GCSE results 2015

    10.39 Aug. 20th, 2015 | Exam results

  • A-level results 2015: English

    11.50 Aug. 13th, 2015 | Exam results

  • ‘We were not prepared to accept the status quo’

    Should we make the GCSE pass rate harder? In response to Mark Dawes The new GCSEs will be challenging. But schools are in an excellent position to deliver qualifications that at last will prepare students to succeed in a demanding economy In September, schools will begin teaching the new maths and English GCSEs to year…

    7.00 Jun. 26th, 2015 | Opinion

  • The practicalities of making students study English to 18

    More teachers will be needed to teach students who don’t really want to be there. . . and just as more budget cuts are about to hit further education. Why hasn’t someone thought this through? After teaching English in secondary schools for 12 or so years, I began working as an FE lecturer in Warwickshire;…

    7.30 May. 2nd, 2015 | Opinion