The Value of GCSEs

[Carole]

Hi

Today is the big day for those 16 year olds here in the UK who have recently sat their GCSEs as it's the day the results are published. I can almost feel their excitement mixed with anxiety.

What I can't help wondering, though, is whether there's any real value left in GCSEs other than for determining whether or not the student will be able to progress to college.

Pupils are split into two groups, depending on how their teacher's judge their abilities. The lower group hasn't any chance of attaining more than a C grade, which is a pass but very much a middle-of-the-road pass. In some subject, a D grade is the highest they can achieve. This is just about a pass.

The bottom line is that officials are saying that employers will understand that a C is the best grade that can be achieved and will therefore rank it highly, but how on earth can they? I know for certain that if I were to interview two young people, 1 with only C grades, 1 with As, I'd be more likely to employ the one with As.

Why this split? Why can't all pupils be given the chance to achieve an A? If they still don't manage more than a C, so be it, but at least they were given the chance. Many lose their motivation when they're told that they'll have to sit their GCSEs in the lower group.

I personallly think the system stinks and would be very interested to hear what others think about it.

Carole.