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English baccalaureate for GCSEs?

Thanks to Martin Lapworth of Taskmagic fame for this "heads-up" (ouch!).

This is from the Press Association:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iSlHn-4caDgT3CHSYjQEdEiRH_eQ

This could have huge implications for modern language teaching since schools would immediately place a higher value on languages, effectively awarding them a similar status to maths, English and science. Could be good news for history and geography too.

Not sure what it means yet. It looks like giving a name given to a collection of subjects which many students already study. I can already hear the debate about sheep and goats, creating two classes of students, those with the bac and those without, like returning to O-level and CSE. Some other subject areas would feel devalued. What would having this bac gain a student? Would it become a prerequisite for entry to some universities? Almost certainly. If the aim is to produce more scientists, linguists, historians and geographers, then are there other ways of doing this apart from inventing a new certificate? Do we need GCSEs anyway?

However, as a French teacher, my first reaction is positive. It could be a cunning plan. Mr Gove is responding to views teachers have been expressing for some time.

As for reforming and simplifying A-levels, this could also be welcome. The words devil and detail spring to mind.

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