A Need For Exams? (From Wandsworth Guardian)

A Need For Exams?

11:56pm Monday 31st May 2010

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Exams now absorb a disproportionate part of time at school. We have Key Stage 1 and 2 SATS, GCSEs, ASs and A-levels. Children today are put under unprecedented levels of stress through these exams.

Sitting GCSEs myself, I know how stressful exams can be, whether SATS, GCSEs or tests given by a teacher. I am only taking 11 GCSEs, 10 of which generate 22 exams, excluding those sat in year 10 and January 2010.

In Year 10, one’s told Year 11 takes priority; in Year 11, A-levels take priority. If this last is true, what does it say of GCSEs? How diminished must this make the GCSE students who does not go on to A-levels? And, if this is true, why are students put under the stress of a number of exams when they aren’t even important?

And what really is the purpose and benefit of interminable new national tests and exams. Every developed country has something like GCSE’s and A-levels, but we are alone with the SATS. What is the benefit of these? Do they have a purpose beyond fulfilling OFSTED requirements? These may promote the schools but what of the students? Are we any more clever because of these exams, than our parents or grandparents?

For years, ours was one of the best regarded education systems in the world. Surely, the people have not lost in a generation or so, the ability or willingness to learn! The custodians of the system have let us down.

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