GCSE results out amid criticism

Another row over the quality of school examinations is likely to brew on Thursday when more than half a million pupils learn how they fared in their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams.

Record results are expected. A total of 594,650 students appeared for the GCSE exams this year.

Like A-level exams, the tests have been condemned by critics who say they are becoming easier and fail to provide a challenge to bright pupils.

Last year, students got more top grades than ever before, although the overall passing rate remained the same at 97.6 per cent.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) said many children left school without basic reading and writing skills and argued that employers were crying out for better job applicants.

าThe starting point for employers recruiting staff is surely to have access to candidates with literacy and numeracy. We are not there yet,ำ said Richard Wilson, head of business policy at the IoD. าIf individuals lack these skills, workplace training and development or progression into further and higher education becomes much more difficult.ำ

Newspapers also reported that some independent schools were now considering doing away with the exams completely, arguing they had been าdumbed downำ to meet government targets.

The GCSE results come a week after exam authorities said the passing rate in this yearีs A-levels had reached a record high, prompting similar accusations from critics that these tests were becoming meaningless.

Government ministers, teachers and pupils, however, claim that better results reflect the hard work of the students and those involved in the education system.

Last year, former chief schools inspector Mike Tomlinson recommended that GCSEs and A-levels be gradually replaced by a single diploma system, with fewer but harder exams.

The proposal was welcomed by many educationalists but rejected by the government, which instead decided to boost vocational education in secondary schools.