GCSE Homework to be scrapped

Nine of the most academic GCSE subjects including Maths, History, Geography and English Literature will have coursework scrapped from 2009.

The Qualifications and Curriculm Authority (QCA) who are the official exams watchdog announced that students will be required to complete projects in the classroom under teachers' supervision.

The decision was made after a report that warned that children were using the internet to help with their work and had therefore made the coursework less valid.

From 2009 puplis will work on projects in the classroom, teachers will monitor access to books and the internet to ensure the pupils are not seen to be cheating.

Practical subjects such as Art and music will retain the element of un-supervised coursework.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "Coursework has a major contribution to make to exam grades because it can be used to test a much wider variety of knowledge and skills than a written exam lasting a couple of hours.

"I am pleased that calls for coursework to be abolished have been headed off by this proposal for it to be done under more controlled conditions and for that reason I support it.

"The internet has changed the parameters of coursework and the continued credibility of coursework marks depends upon the work being done under more controlled conditions.

"It's important that we do not lose the positive side of coursework because of the problems of plagiarism".

Your Views

Posted by: Diane Pitman Posts: 30 From: Wimborne Dorset		GCSECoursework I am glad I am not a teacher at present. My son has coursework and it must be a constant headache for teachers with many kids not even bothering. I can see the arguments for and against it but I think that as no two kids are the same their educational needs are also different. When classes are so big there is no choice but to choose the middle road and hope you do not loose too many along the way.

	Posted: 19/Nov/07 at 15:25:35

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