GCSE students have 'too many exams' and should do more coursework instead, exam board says
An exam board has said GCSE students have 'too many exams' and has called for more coursework instead.
OCR said the big focus on testing leads to a 'narrow range of learning' because schools are focused on what will be in the exam paper.
Its new report suggests reducing the amount of time pupils spend in exams - with GCSE students currently sitting more than 31 hours of papers - as well as slimming down course content.
And it said other options should be considered, such as sitting exams in modules or setting 'non-exam assessment' - for example coursework which is marked by a teacher.
OCR have sent the report to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and her curriculum review team, led by Professor Becky Francis.
OCR said the big focus on testing leads to a 'narrow range of learning' because schools are focused on what will be in the exam paper. (Stock photo)
The OCR report suggests reducing the amount of time pupils spend in exams - with GCSE students currently sitting more than 31 hours of papers (stock photo)
If adopted by the Government, the proposals could be rolled out from 2025 onwards.
The report was chaired by Charles Clarke, who was education secretary under New Labour from 2002 to 2004.
The recommendations are reminiscent of his government, which adopted more coursework and modular exams for A-levels.
This was reversed by the Conservatives after 2010, over concerns that these forms of assessment were easier and leading to declining standards and grade inflation.
However, OCR, one the main boards for England and Wales, said yesterday volume and intensity of exams at GCSE is now 'too high', with the average pupil spending 31.5 hours sitting them.
It said this is higher than most other jurisdictions in the world.
Jill Duffy, chief executive of OCR, said: 'No-one expects an exam board to say there are too many exams.
'Established exams have enormous strengths. But you can have too much of a good thing over a short period.
'It is possible to rebalance assessment at GCSE without sacrificing rigour and standards.
'A more relevant and enriched curriculum would give more space for deeper learning, better preparing our children for an incredibly complex world.'
OCR have sent the report to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) and her curriculum review team
The report was welcomed by Daniel Kebede (pictured), general secretary of the National Education Union
Mr Clarke said: 'Too many children are emerging at 16 without the basic skills they need to navigate a rapidly changing world.
'Many teachers we consulted felt that this sort of change would give them the time and space to do the sort of teaching they joined the profession for..'
The OCR review is based on wide consultation with stakeholders, including more than 2,000 pupils and teachers.
It said: 'We have found that the volume of assessment and size of the curriculum can be reduced without reducing the integrity of exams, or the value of the qualification.'
It suggested making a 'modest reduction in assessment time' and reducing the content of the curriculum.
It added: 'The potential for reducing content varies from subject to subject, with maths, the sciences, and history standing out as particularly overloaded.'
Among the recommendations is to use a 'wider range of assessment models' including 'a modular approach' and greater use of 'open book exams and exam aids'.
It also suggests 'non-exam assessments' (NEAs), which are marked by teachers and moderated externally - formerly known as coursework.
However, it acknowledged risks of plagiarism should be taken into account with this.
The report was welcomed by Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, which has been campaigning against Tory curriculum reforms.
He said: 'It is ever clearer that all in the sector are crying out for change.
'The goal is a system of curriculum and assessment which is broader, more diverse, more inclusive and fit for the future.'
