Abstract
On achieving power, the coalition government was quick to fulfil its election pledge to abolish as many quangos as reasonable in the shortest possible time. Among the first to go was the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. One of the principal roles of the authority had been to set the criteria which were used by the awarding organisations (AOs) to develop their A-level (and GCSE) specifications. The AOs themselves set the papers, arrange for them to be marked and make the awards. In principle, another quango, Ofqual, polices the system and, in particular, monitors the standard of the papers. However, Ofqual is underfunded and has no subject expertise. As a result, it is generally accepted that in physics standards have fallen, an observation easily verified by comparing current papers with those of two decades ago.
Highlights
Recent studies, for example the Institute’s own Mind the Gap report, have indicated an increasing mismatch between the knowledge and skills of students on entry to degree courses in physics and engineering and what academics expect them to have
One of the principal roles of the authority had been to set the criteria which were used by the awarding organisations (AOs) to develop their A-level specifications
Having abolished the body that set the subject criteria for A-levels, the Secretary of State called upon universities in general, and the Russell Group (RG) in particular, to become much more involved in setting A-levels
Summary
For example the Institute’s own Mind the Gap report, have indicated an increasing mismatch between the knowledge and skills of students on entry to degree courses in physics and engineering and what academics expect them to have. One of the principal roles of the authority had been to set the criteria which were used by the awarding organisations (AOs) to develop their A-level (and GCSE) specifications.
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