Career Charts
  • Welcome
    • Career Education Resources
    • Careers Poster
    • Guidance Professionals >
      • Mailing List
    • Further Education
    • Services to Schools >
      • Print Graphic and Web Design for Schools
      • Career Choices 2018
      • Career Events
    • International Schools
    • Higher Education Careers
    • Fresh Careers Fair >
      • Fresh Careers Posters
    • Publishers Association Poster
    • Parents >
      • Services to Young People
      • Parent Digital
  • About Us
    • Orders
    • Quotation
    • Contact Us
    • Business Partnerships
    • Feedback
    • Copyright & Privacy
    • Membership >
      • Membership Area
      • Big Names Publication
      • Prospects Members
      • CGC Ebook Staff Version
      • Pickles Digital Trial
      • FSIE
      • Lyceecdg1
    • Product Endorsements
    • Career Resource Discounts
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Career Poster Blog
  • Our Products
    • Poster Selection
    • Digital Publications >
      • CGC Ebook 4.1 >
        • Ebook 4.1 Sample Version
      • Digital Action Plan >
        • Digital Case Study
        • Action Plan Data
        • Test Action Plan
      • Big Names Feature
    • Print Publication >
      • CGC Volume 3
    • Career Posters
    • Career Infographics
    • Careers Roller Banner >
      • Banner Assembly
    • Hanging Banners
    • Foamex Boards
    • Coming Soon
  • Student Login
  • UK Store
  • USA Store
    • Poster Picker
    • Poster Packs
    • CTE Posters
    • Music Careers Poster
    • Sports Careers Poster
    • Consumer Science Careers Poster
  • Pickles
    • Pickles Downloads
  • STCC responses
  • Ramani Career Plan
  • UCAS Widget
  • Non-clickable Page

How are we to Interpret the New GCSE Grade System?

11/13/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
I recently did a workshop with year 9's on their options choices. Over lunch I had an interesting discussion with the curriculum head. It would seem that despite the reforms, some of these year 9's will be doing GCSE's in 2017 on the old grading structure and some under the new. Perhaps that's not particularly an issue for them right now but here are the ripples I see coming. Has anyone else seen it? I have questions but who has the answers?                                              

1. Employers
​Most employers look for a minimum standard of education, currently at least a C at GCSE in English and Maths. It's the government benchmark. But will employers know what a C looks like? Currently the new system grades C at 4 but a 5 is more of a better C and and 6 is more like a B. So will employers look at the grades differently? Or will it just be confusing to them?

2.. Apprenticeships
Most modern apprenticeships again usually require a C grade as a standard. In some cases where more technical skills are required e.g engineering, some employers may require a B grade in maths. So under the new grade that would be a solid 6 but what if a student got a 5 ie a C/B under the new system, will that be acceptable? 

3. A level's
So what grade will get you into Chemistry A level at your school? How will schools decide on who will be allowed to study the qualification. For a harder subject likely chemistry a solid 8 or 9 is a guarantee of course capability. But what about a 7 or a 6? What of other perhaps less demanding subjects such as History, again will a 6 be sufficient? What overall grading in English and Maths will be acceptable for entrance into 6th Form? Who's going to decide?

PictureGCSE New Grading System
4. Level 2 and 3 Courses
How will colleges decide on entrants requirements for students in these post 16 courses. For some vocation courses 2 GCSE's grade D is sufficient. But under the new system will a grade 3 be enough? And for their level 3 courses on the NCF? 4 GCSE's at grade 4? Could a student at Grade 4 cope with an extended diploma level 3?

5. Degree Entrants
Certain degrees have a requirement for high academic standards at GCSE, such as Vet Science, Medicine and Dentistry. But what will be their requirement under the new scheme? What grading will they be looking for 7,8 or 9? Will a 7 be sufficient, it classed as an A. which sound like a good grade but when you consider its exceed by 8 at A* and 9 more like an A** is that going to be enough? You can read more on GCSE and university requirements in this good Telegraph article.

6. Students 
Perhaps the biggest impact of all will be on the welfare of our young people as they continue to press to get the best grades, Will there be excitement at results time for getting a 7, a solid A or will that be disappointing and to whom, student or parents?

7. Career Advisors
We need the answers because between education system and employers somehow we need to advise young people accurately and fairly of what these changes will mean. Right now it's a foggy landscape out there and we'd like someone to make some definite calls on how we should interpret these changes. I hope someone in the DofE has the answers. Comments very welcome

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Russ Banner

    I have 10 years experience of working in careers guidance and am director of CGC.  We publish career infographics for schools and colleges

    Archives

    January 2018
    December 2017
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    October 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
COPYRIGHT & PRIVACY
QUESTIONS
PRODUCTS
 HOW TO ORDER
E: sales@careerguidancecharts.com 
Picture
LOGIN
T: 03300012492


Picture
Picture
GO TO STORE