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Wellington to step off GCSE 'treadmill'
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent16.12.08
A LEADING private school is set to abandon the GCSE amid claims it is too "formulaic" and boring.
Dr Anthony Seldon, the master of Wellington College in Berkshire, is consulting parents about a plan to enter 16-year-old pupils for the Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate.
He said that he was losing faith in the GCSE system to promote stimulating and exciting lessons and that studying GCSEs was like being on a treadmill.
"Pupils start their course and within 12 weeks they have to move on to the next module. It becomes all about moving on - that's not education. There is no time for thinking or creativity," he said.
More than 150 state and independent schools across Britain offer the IB diploma as an alternative to A level. The MYP, however, is available in only six international schools and one state school - Dartford Grammar School for Boys.
Reader views (4)
A.Winsley, London.
Judging by your efforts, I certainly hope that the IB program helps your son's spelling ability surpass that of his parents. Shocking. Attidudes, indeed. :-0
- Charlie J, Philadelphia, USA
A Winsley - looks like the current English exams were certainly wasted on yourself, if your spelling is anything to go by.
- Jock, London
My son has been attending a IB school for the past 6 years. When meeting other youngsters from Grammer schools of the sameyear and age group . He and other IB students have shown a great deal of intelectin comparason to the other schools. This doesn't mean that all IB students are highly intelegent, but their thinking and attidudes are in advance of the majority of the GCSE students.
The IB course have not been messed about politicly, or structurally to make the numbers look good.
The IB courses are the same throught out the world.At a certain age a certain knowledge must be attained.
Hooray for the IB and Baccalaureate. The other English and English exams ar a total waste of time for the youngsters to learn.
- A. Winsley, London. England
The Nu Labor system has failed.
- Georgie, Islington, London
