IGCSEs and exams
Hi
This made me laugh so much I had to share it with you!
According to the Telegraph newspaper today, State schools are now going to be allowed to ditch GCSEs in favour of IGCSEs- their words, not mine!
If the top Grammar schools and many independent schools are taking IGCSEs (along with many home-educated children) I think we are going to see even bigger discrepancies in the standard of useable education that children receive.
I have had a couple of interesting conversations with other Home-Ed parents about exams over the last few days.
One parent said that schools are moving towards being specialist centres, such as for sport or art or music or languages and that our home educated children will be able to access these facilities a couple of days a week to take courses of their choosing.
If that is the case, then taking exams should become easier.
It seems that some authorities have funding available for activities involving home educated children and their parents. This seems to be available through the Family Learning Unit. It requires adults to be present and to take part in the activities as well.
There seems to be minimal monitoring, although obviously the Local Authority wants to know that the funding is being spent as claimed.
Well, I suppose the cynical side of me would say that is a great way to make sure that monitoring can be increased.
The sceptic in me would say that the LAs and the government are only extending the hand of friendship (and money) as a tool for getting their foot in the door! Be nice, where bullying has failed!
However, in giving them the benefit of the doubt, it would be nice if there was some co-operation and there genuinely was the best interests of all children at heart.
Things have to change in the education world.
Last year, when we were battling with the last consultation, I remember seeing a comment on a blog ( I think) which really summed the whole thing up.
The author was talking about Home Education seemed to be almost is a war with School- based education and wondered whether both sides could learn from each other. Would it be possible that both sides could adopt the “best practice” of each other?
Now that would be something powerful!
Home Educators are becoming a powerful and very vocal voice to be reckoned with.
Amanda Goldston
