NUT: Michael Gove is incorrect and offensive

Thursday, 21 June 2012 2:30 PM

Commenting on Michael Gove’s statement to the House of Commons on leaked documents regarding GCSE reforms, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said:

“Michael Gove’s continual criticism of GCSEs as a ‘dumbed down’ examination is not only incorrect but also very offensive to those pupils and teachers who achieve great results every year.

“Getting rid of GCSEs and replacing them with the old O level and CSE qualifications could easily lower aspirations and exacerbate inequalities in society.
Children develop at different stages in their school career. Deciding at the age of 14 which exam route pupils take is to no ones benefit.

“Parents will be unhappy with these proposals. Children should all have the same chance and opportunity to succeed at school. Being told you are not bright enough to take O levels will simply de-motivate pupils.

“The teaching profession must be properly consulted on such a crucial change in the examination system. Teachers are not mere deliverers’ of knowledge but are there to inspire and motivate their students with a curriculum that is for everyone and not just for the few.”

END pr108-2012
For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061



Caroline Cowie
NUT Press Officer
Hamilton House, Mabledon Place,
London WC1H 9BD
0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
 

Disclaimer: Press releases published on this page are from key opinion formers who promote their organisation's activities by subscribing to a campaign site within politics.co.uk. politics.co.uk does not endorse, edit, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases are wholly the responsibility of the originating company or organisation.

Related stories

Gove blocks inquiry into GCSE 'fiasco'

GCSE students celebrate earlier this summer. Not all who took English this year are so happy

Michael Gove has again refused to intervene in the "regrettable situation" over GCSE exam grades labelled a "fiasco" by frustrated MPs.

comments comments

'Failed': Gove ready to scrap GCSEs

Michael Gove says he wants to scrap GCSEs by the end of the parliament

GCSEs' days appear to be numbered, after Michael Gove announced officials were "crossing the Ts and dotting the Is" of a major shakeup of England's exam system.

comments comments

Gove 'didn't clear' GCSE plan with PM

Mr Gove is proposing to scrap GCSEs and replace them with old-style O levels

Nick Clegg has claimed that even the prime minister was not aware of Michael Gove's controversial plans to bring back O levels.

comments comments

End of the golden boy: Gove humiliated in new coalition U-turn

Gove, deflated: The education secretary is the author of the latest coalition U-turn

Michael Gove's reputation as Cabinet's golden boy took a severe hammering this morning, as he announced a humiliating retreat on his ambitious plans for GCSEs to the Commons.

comments comments

Gove as PM? 'I couldn't do it'

Parchments? Blood? Steady on, Michael

Britain faces the rest of the 21st century without the prospect of Michael Gove as a future PM.

comments comments

'One Nation Labour': Miliband wins plaudits for storming speech

Ed Miliband with wife Justine after the speech

Ed Miliband won plaudits across the political spectrum today, after delivering an impressive conference speech promising a "One Nation Labour party".

comments comments

Michael Gove on mathematics and civilisation

Michael Gove spoke at the Royal Society

Full text of Michael Gove speech at the Royal Society on maths and science.

comments comments

Michael Gove GCSE statement in full

Michael Gove statement on GCSE reform in full

Read Michael Gove's statement making a humiliating U-turn on GCSE reform in full.

comments comments

Michael Gove speech on adoption in full

Michael Gove: 'An ethnic match between adopters and child can be a bonus'

Read Michael Gove's speech on adoption in full on politics.co.uk

comments comments

Theresa May & Michael Gove at Leveson as-it-happened

Theresa May and Michael Gove at Leveson.

Follow Theresa May and Michael Gove at the Leveson inquiry with politics.co.uk's live blog.

comments comments

Press Releases

NUT: Children left in tears and disengaged as literacy and numeracy tests are introduced

Michael Gove’s letter to schools re teachers’ pay - NUT response

NUT: Nick Clegg raises concerns over Government plans to relax child care ratios

NUT on Queen’s Speech: Many teachers "in despair"

NUT: Michael Gove’s reforms are plain wrong

NUT: Demos report on Ofsted

NUT: Ofqual Report into Perception of A-Levels and GCSEs

NUT: Restrictions on teachers' pay, alongside all the pressures that teachers face from Ofsted and unacceptable

NUT comment on teacher workforce figures

NUT survey on Funding for Sixth Form Sector

More Articles ...

Twitter

Join the conversation at #opinion_formers

Related Opinion Former Press Releases

NUT: Michael Gove has for once listened to sense

Commenting on Michael Gove’s climb down on proposals to replace GCSEs with English Baccalaureate Certificates in five key subjects Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: “This is really good news. Michael Gove has for once listened to sense."

NASUWT: Michael Gove u-turn on GCSEs "no cause for celebration"

Commenting ahead of a statement by the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove on his decision not to proceed with English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs), Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT said: "The English Baccalaureate Certificates was always a distraction. The certificates may have gone but the English Baccalaureate remains as a measure in the performance league tables."

Michael Gove must learn from EBacc U-turn, says Voice

Voice: the union for education professionals has welcomed news that the Government is to abandon plans to scrap GCSEs in key subjects in England and replace them with English Baccalaureate Certificates.

Special event coverage

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences

Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.

Opinion Former Events

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.