Testing times ahead?

One of the region’s elite British curriculum schools is resolute it can adapt if the UK government’s controversial plans to revise the current GCSE examinations are put in place.

British Education Secretary Michael Gove has taken steps to bring back a rigorous new O-level style system that could see fewer secondary school students achieving top grades.

However, the new system will not be introduced until September 2015, and could even be scrapped if the opposition Labour Party win the next British election, due in May 2015.

Bahrain’s St Christopher’s Senior School has an impressive GCSE track record and Ed Goodwin, principal of St Christopher’s School and chairman of the British Schools in the Middle East - an organisation representing 70 British-style schools in 13 countries - urges parents and pupils not to despair.

He said: “At St Christopher’s we are blessed with a talented, knowledgeable, hard-working and caring faculty and, accordingly, the attitude is that whatever measures Michael Gove puts in place, our staff will ensure that they are applied impeccably and that our students will be given the best possible opportunity of achieving the results they deserve and of which they are capable.”

Mr Goodwin added that in the 24 years since GCSEs and the National Curriculum began, teachers have become used to constant tinkering and change.

“At times, the number of changes to syllabuses, assessment methods and styles of exams has been huge – and teachers and schools have learned to cope,” he said.

“Also, over the years, we have become used to U-turns and proposed changes not actually coming to fruition. At the moment we all have to wait to see how the debate progresses and plans shape-up.  And, of course, given that there will be a UK General Election before the implementation date – it may be that the plans come to nothing!”

If the changes are implemented then there will be one major examination per subject after two years of study rather than segmented exams peppered with coursework.

Some critics of the proposed new exam structure have claimed that it will add undue pressure to students and will hit those who perform poorly in tests but excel in course work.

Mr Goodwin says his team will ensure all students received solid support: “Because St Christopher’s sixth form – in addition to A-level – also offers the IB Diploma programme in which assessment is made at the end of the two-year course, the school already has experience working with students whose results depend almost entirely on one set of exams at the end of a two-year course.

“Also, under the current system, there are regular periods of pressure during Years 10 and 11. The current system is certainly not free of pressure. On balance, student stress could possibly be less for many students than is the case currently.

“If there is a change to end-of-course exams only, then St Christopher’s would assess whether changes were needed to the pastoral / guidance structure so that it provides extra support at pressure points and would look at preparing students for such a system perhaps a year or so prior to starting the new courses.”

The first step in the face of any proposed changes, according to Mr Goodwin is ensuring that the school remains fully-informed of how the development of any new system is progressing.

Once changes have been confirmed, then there would be a review of current practices at the school to see what needed to be modified. 

“The next step would be that schools would receive the new syllabuses from the UK examinations boards.  These would lead to an assessment of what extra books and equipment were required – these items would then be ordered to ensure they were in school before the date of commencement for the new courses,” he said.

“At the same time, any staff training needs would be identified and training would be provided as necessary. To re-emphasise – this is a common task for schools such as St Christopher’s and one that has been completed many times over the years.”

And the school’s current academic prowess appears to be a clear example of coping with change.