Algebra and logarithms

 

Making it nearly impossible for universities to compare candidates as they won't have done a standard curriculum and even the grades in common subjects won't be equivalent.

That is why universities need to be responsible for setting the criteria for key-subjects, not some temporary secretary for education. I'd rather see Universities invite students to come and take entry-exams than have them rely on a system that is based on arbitrary curricula. Don't forget that universities already rely on non-national curricula with foreign students.

Universities don't write GCSE level papers, nor are they a single homologous organisation...

Edit - good point re:foreign students.

Universities don't write GCSE level papers, nor are they a single homologous organisation...

 

Edit - good point re:foreign students.

They don't that is my point although they are not a unified organisation, they do have unified representation either in the form of an arm of Universities UK (committee of VCs and principals) or it could be done by bumping up the relevance of an organisation like the Higher Education Academy.

But it shouldn't just be universities, employers should be represented as well, in the form of professional associations. It should be the association for car mechanics that decides on the curriculum for car mechanics for example.

It should be the association for car mechanics that decides on the curriculum for car mechanics for example.

They do once you pass the age of 16 and you leave and do a course on becoming a car mechanic. The same for many professions.

Are you saying you think a curriculum from the age of 4 should be set by employers?

A thorough understanding and ability to use iambic pentameter is an essential skill in over 80% of occupations.

 

jb

I was talking to a friend today, he is quite bright, but could not help his 15 yr old daughter with some maths homework, some difficult stuff. But then when he looked at some of her other work, she had got 7x7 wrong

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzijlstra

It is time that curricula are no longer controlled nationally, certainly not by the government. Rather than rely on standardised national exams and the like, kids should leave school with a portfolio that can be assessed by potential employers, further education institutes and so on. The criteria for assessment should be set by professional associations and further education institutes and kids should be thought how to put together their own skills portfolio and take responsibility for doing so.

Part of those portfolios can be GCSE type exams for things like maths and English, other parts should be left to the kids and teachers. All this nannying is just interfering and obstructing the learning process.

Making it nearly impossible for universities to compare candidates as they won't have done a standard curriculum and even the grades in common subjects won't be equivalent.

Also if we did not have a national curriculum any child moving from one school to another could potentially find it very difficult to catch up to catch up in some subjects and virtually impossible in some others. It could certainly prove very detrimental to all but the most able students.

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Also if we did not have a national curriculum any child moving from one school to another could potentially find it very difficult to catch up to catch up in some subjects and virtually impossible in some others. It could certainly prove very detrimental to all but the most able students.

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Do all schools teach the same part of the curriculum at the same point in the school year..?

They're certainly obliged to teach the NC, I think it dictates a lot of the order that things are taught in as well.

Do all schools teach the same part of the curriculum at the same point in the school year..?

I know teaching swimming is in the NC but its not always taught, certainly not always with success.