GCSEs are widely recognised by young people, parents and
employers. New names will introduce unnecessary confusion,
especially among employers. Rather than introduce EBCs, the
government should - in the short term - ensure that GCSEs and
technical/vocational qualifications are rigorous and
reliable.
In the longer term, the Government should conduct a proper
review of 14-18 qualifications similar to the review led by Huw
Evans on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. This will give us
the chance to examine good practice around the world. In Ontario,
for example, students gain credits in a blend of general and
specialist subjects over the four years from 14 to 18, leading to a
high-school graduation diploma at 18+. This would be a good
starting point for a coherent 14-18 curriculum inEngland.
Including Computer Science into the Ebacc is a welcome development.
However the Edge Foundation would like to see a wider range of
technical, practical and vocational subjects included - such as
engineering - to ensure that young people have a wide choice of
learning experiences available to them.
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