GCSE home coursework is scrapped

[dirrty]

Traditional GCSE coursework is to be scrapped for most academic subjects following a report by exam watchdogs.

From 2009, it will be replaced by what is being called "controlled assessment", where pupils will do projects under supervision in class.
The changes come amid concerns about pupils cheating by copying from the internet or getting help from parents.
They will apply across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Science coursework will not be affected.
This is because science GCSE courses changed last year and much of the coursework involved is already done in school.

Reliable
The changes follow a review by the exams and curriculum body for England the QCA, working closely with counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland.
They will affect nine subjects, including English literature, geography and history.
A QCA report, published last autumn said GSCE coursework had become "less valid".

Two-thirds of teachers surveyed for the study had said they did not think coursework was valid and reliable.

The QCA says pupils doing supervised projects in class may work on their own or in groups, but they will be monitored by a teacher and access to books, the internet and other sources of information will be controlled.

Consultation is taking place about what kind of supervision there should be for this work, ranging from direct to loose.
There will also be reforms to the way coursework is set and marked. Currently teachers in each school design the work and mark it, and outside moderators check samples of results across the country.
In future the exam boards will set the coursework as well as the exams. Teachers will continue to mark that work, but the regulators say once coursework is more streamlined, it will be easier to moderate effectively .
Ken Boston, the head of England's QCA said: "The ability of the GCSE to stretch and challenge young people has been reinforced by the proposals that examinations must include extended writing and more varied question types.
"Controlled assessments will increase public confidence in the GCSE and allow the integration of new sources of data and information, including the Internet, under supervision."

Problems of plagiarism
Head teachers say they are pleased that coursework will not be lost altogether and will remain in the form of extended work done in school.
John Dunford, 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".
John Bangs, from the National Union of Teachers said cheating was not widespread but the issue did need looking at.


"A review of coursework was long overdue, for example the drawing down of information from the internet and parents helping, but outright cheating was rare.

"Proposals have come forward without being trialled and I worry about undermining the confidence of parents and children in their results this year."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6747973.stm

what you think about this? wont affect me so im not bothered, but i prefer coursework to anything else as its easier for me i think.

[@K]

I found this out a few months ago, it was on the news aswell.
+rep anyway for posting it.

Edit: Must spread rep first.

[joshuar]

I heard about this ages ago, but I suppose it is needed, as you can pay a few quid and get a decent piece of coursework done. And some you just preview and reword it all.

+ rep for news though

[VPSwow]

My teacher told me about that!

[Wizzdom]

I heard it on the radio

[Tristan]

RIP to those that'll be taking their GCSE's in and after 2009.
Home coursework is the easiest to do (no, I don't get help), but class controlled coursework is horrible.

[TheGayOne]

Ooo gonna be much harder to do it in class, at home is easy =) me and my mates work together on most of them =)

Harsh that they will have to do in school, will be loads harder

[Frodo13.]

Ya I well prefer home coursework. Its can be so much more relaxed then school. I did one controlled coursework in French...god it was tough. We were only allowed a dictonary. I just wrote one beforehand and tried to remember it the best I could

[Hecktix]

If they are doing that then they should make the coursework weigh more in the total grade.

Because they are going to be WASTING lesson after lesson doing "controlled coursework" when they could be learning course content which they will need for their exam.

[mat64]

How dare they?! All the same thanks for the news though.