GCSE coursework in major overhaul

The examinations authority has announced sweeping changes to GCSE coursework, saying it should be supervised in some subjects or even scrapped altogether.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's (QCA) guidance comes amid growing concerns that some children are copying work from the internet, or that many are getting their parents to help out too much.

However, teaching unions have expressed scepticism about the move, questioning how much of a problem the internet really is. NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott said the QCA had taken a "draconian approach".

Coursework in economics, English literature, geography, history, modern languages, religious studies, business studies and social sciences will replaced by "controlled assessments" from September 2009.

In maths, the QCA – following a subject-by-subject review over the past year – has decided to scrap the coursework element altogether from next September. Decisions about English and ICT will be made at a later date.

Education secretary Alan Johnson announced the changes at the Labour conference last week, saying: "We have one of the most rigorous exam systems in the world – we cannot have it devalued and undermined by the few who cheat by copying from the internet."

And today QCA chief executive Ken Boston said: "We are confident that the changes we are making to coursework will ensure that the GCSE remains fit for purpose, and ultimately reduces the assessment burden on both students and teachers."

However, teaching union Nasuwt said it had "never subscribed to the view" that widespread cheating and plagiarism in coursework "is a major problem", and said the idea of 'controlled assessment' raised more questions than it answered.

"Supervised writing up of research will not deter those determined to buck the system from being coached by a parent beforehand," said general secretary Chris Keates.

He added: "Rather than placing additional burdens and responsibilities on teachers or denying some pupils access to the opportunity to benefit from coursework, QCA and the exam boards should be prepared to place more trust in the professional judgment and integrity of teachers."

An Ipsos Mori poll of 100 heads of subjects by the QCA found that 82 per cent disagreed that children used the internet too much in coursework, and 63 per cent disagreed that this made it harder to authenticate work.

Two-thirds (66 per cent) opposed removing GCSE coursework from their subject, 13 per cent said it should be carried out under supervision and 11 per cent said more needed to be done to make it fairer.

NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott accused the QCA of taking a "draconian approach", saying it had ignored teachers' views about the value of coursework and its ability to enhance young people's confidence.

"Of course excessive burdens on both teachers and students from coursework need to be stripped out," he said.

"But teachers will not want to exchange coursework for an assessment regime that does not promote greater understanding and involvement in the subject."