So I got an email from NUS about this petition:
I signed it straight away and then directed me to write a letter to my local MP. So here's mine. Please sign the petition, you don't have to be a member of NUS to do it.
"Listen to the desires of your
children. Encourage them and then give them the autonomy to make their own
decision." - Denis Waitley
My name is Chris and I am writing to you to
raise my concerns with the government’s A-level and AS level reform. I feel my opinion is just as valid as MPs'
who claim to know better than students who have first-hand experience with the
educational system and process. As you know, from September 2013, the
government is reforming A-Levels, with mid-year January assessments being
removed; limiting opportunities for resits, with synoptic assessment taking
priority.
A mantra that we all have learnt is now
being swept aside. What is happening to "if you don't succeed, try and try
again"? Why is it morphing into: "do it well the first time or else
you must naturally be a failure"? We rarely achieve things perfectly and
to our utmost potential the first time. It is true that there are students who
generally do well in exams first time round, and achieve highly academically.
However, not every single student does, due to natural ability, quality of
teaching or external circumstances. But if they are willing to put the work in
to do better, I do not understand why they should be held back.
Another point I wish to address is the
government's concern of an alleged "retake culture", leading to
students being lazy, and not taking their exams seriously as they are safe in
the happy knowledge that they can just try again.
This is false. There is not a resit culture
amongst the students. We cannot be lazy - if we were, we would not be attending
college in the first place (which, as you know is non-compulsory). Furthermore,
we have other commitments and subjects to focus on (some students take up to 5
subjects in their first year of college) - and retaking exams relies almost
solely on independent study. Due to cuts in EMA, most students find that we
have to work to support the cost of their books and equipment, educational
trips, travel costs for college and so on, rather than continuously drain our
parent's bank accounts. But most of all - we have to pay for our own resits.
Few colleges will pay for resits on behalf of students, including those
receiving the limited student support funds. Costs range from the lowest at £20
for most subjects (e.g. Biology and Maths) to £50 (Understanding, Written
Response and Research in Chinese). You will of course remember that students are
unlikely to simply retake a single exam, and the costs will add up.
An additional large problem with these
reforms is that there will be a focus on exam skills, rather than testing the
knowledge students have gained and their ability to utilize them. I'm sure you
will agree that being able to fill in a booklet in a particular way is not the
most useful skill. You may be aware that the Russell Group of Universities has
a very strong influence in qualifications. They should not and cannot be the
only influence. we must look at the
bigger picture - what about employers? Why are their views being overlooked?
Isn't education generally considered to be the key to gaining employment?
These reforms are a complete and utter
mistake, and a pathetic attempt to prove that "grown ups know best".
As I have stated, there are probably a very, very strong problems, and this is
probably why Wales and Northern Ireland have rejected these reforms and have a
separate exam system instead.
We, as students, are not grade-generating
machines. We are not some strange species who must have decisions made for us.
We are humans with thoughts, voices and opinions, just like any politician. We
are just younger and probably a bit shorter in height.
Speak to the students. Listen to them.
The changes, due to come into effect this
from September 2013 are being rushed through by Michael Gove, without full
consideration for the impact they may have. If reform is to be taken seriously
it must be done thoroughly and in a way that inspires the confidence of the
higher education sector, colleges, schools, students and the wider public.
I hope that you will support my views by
writing to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education; by
highlighting in parliament the impact of the policy on students and the value
of the A-level; and by working with others to call on this policy to be
reversed.
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