The new «advanced maths premium» announced in last year's autumn budget was originally going to be worth # 600 for
every pupil studying the subject beyond GCSE.
Schools» eligibility will be calculated based on increases in the number of
pupils studying the subjects beyond GCSE.
Not exact matches
Where schools and Academies are not offering Religious
Studies, GCSE
pupils are being denied the opportunity to
study an important and valuable
subject, and there are serious concerns that the school is struggling to meet its legal obligations.
A drop in the number of
pupils studying GCSE Religious
Studies (RE) is being put down to some schools flouting the law and not teaching the
subject to 15 and 16 - year - olds.
It was introduced because the government is concerned that there are too few
pupils — especially those from disadvantaged areas — who choose to
study the core academic
subjects desired by the top universities.
Through the English Baccalaureate, we want to make sure all
pupils have the chance to
study the core academic
subjects which universities and employers demand.»
The intention is to allow parents and
pupils to see how schools are performing in key academic
subjects and to encourage schools to give all
pupils, including those from the poorest backgrounds, the opportunity to
study academic
subjects.
«The basic principle should be that
pupils in maintained schools have the same entitlement to
study subjects and sit exams as in the private sector.»
Denying
pupils the opportunity to
study this
subject that can be simultaneously academic and practical and lead to rewarding careers is unfair on the
pupils, their parents who want their children to have fulfilling school and working lives and the companies that could benefit from skilled and innovative personnel at all levels and contribute around # 500 billion to GB plc..
The
study found that specialist primary teachers are six per cent less effective than their non-specialist colleagues, with data showing
pupils who were taught by
subject specialists saw a drop in their grades.
All
pupils starting secondary school in September will be required to
study these Ebac
subjects — English, maths, science, a foreign language and either history or geography - to GCSE level.
Plans will be put in place to encourage
pupils to
study more academic GCSE qualifications by using performance tables that will monitor schools who fail to enrol
pupils in English baccalaureate
subjects.
Writing in the Telegraph, Schools Minister Nick Gibb has criticised the culture of overturning new commitments that discourage
pupils from
studying core academic
subjects.
Under the new system,
pupils will be required to
study the core
subjects of maths, English, science, history or geography and a language.
The move is part of the government's push for more academically challenging
subjects and follows a large rise in
pupils studying computer science, which the DfE believes gives
pupils a stronger foundation for further
study and employment.
In a recent survey conducted by the Design and Technology Association, 705 of 1,300 respondents said that government accountability measures were resulting in decreasing numbers of
pupils opting to
study the
subject at GCSE.
Their comments come amidst the government push for a more «academic» curriculum, with the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which requires
pupils to
study subjects such as English, Maths, Sciences and a language, but omits many creative
subjects.
Analysis published by Durham University has found general
studies to be the
subject in which
pupils were least likely to achieve high grades.
«It seems clear that if the government's ambition is to be met, primary schools will need to lay the foundations in these
subjects before their
pupils move on to
study them at secondary school.»
While maths continues to be the most popular
subject at A level, with almost 25 % of
pupils choosing to
study it, there are almost three quarters of students with an A * - C in GCSE maths at age 16 who decide not to continue
studying the
subject.
Pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may be held back by their A Level
subject choices when applying for elite university places, a
study has found.
Indeed, a 705 of 1,300 respondents to a survey conducted by the Design and Technology Association, said that government accountability measures were resulting in decreasing numbers of
pupils opting to
study the
subject at GCSE and, in some schools, it has been cut entirely.
Only half of parents and carers had heard of the EBacc, compared to 58 per cent last year, despite a push from ministers to increase the number of
pupils studying the core academic EBacc
subjects.
The research also examined whether
pupils had taken «EBacc»
subjects for GCSE, and found
pupils studying them were more likely to stay in education after 16.
Education secretary Justine Greening has announced that the government's plans to have 90 per cent of
pupils studying all EBacc
subjects by 2020 has been pushed back.
The changes have been informed by
subject experts to emphasise the iterative processes of designing, with the aim to better prepare
pupils for a career or further
study in design, engineering, manufacturing and related areas.
The Oasis trust runs 44 schools across the UK and is looking at offering peace
studies as a stand alone
subject as part of a wider programme aimed at ensuring
pupils are not influenced by religious extremism and gang culture.
The creative
subjects have a firm place in the well - established International Baccalaureate (iBacc) curriculum [link]; and the government's own website states clearly in its English Baccalaureate (EBacc) FAQs: «Other qualifications remain valuable in their own right and we encourage all
pupils to
study non-English Baccalaureate
subjects and qualifications, alongside the core English Baccalaureate in order to benefit from a well - rounded education.»
«The EBacc, while comprehensive, still enables
pupils to continue to
study additional
subjects that reflect their individual interests and strengths, including the arts
subjects.»
The current national curriculum applies to state run schools and sets out programmes of
study and attainment targets for all
subjects at all four key stages, guiding
pupils up to their GCSEs.
He concluded: «We are committed to overturning a culture of low expectations that for too long discouraged capable
pupils, predominantly from disadvantaged backgrounds, from
studying the core academic
subjects that open doors to their future.»
According to recent
studies, the top reasons educators go into the profession include: «making a difference in
pupils» lives,» «
subject interest,» and «desire to work with young people.»
As of September, the EBacc system will become compulsory, meaning all
pupils will have to
study core
subjects - English, maths, science, history or geography and a language - as part of a Government performance measure of schools.
His comments follow concerns from the Religious Education Council of England and Wales that a removal of short courses from the Department for Education (DfE) performance tables is «having a serious and negative impact on the number of
pupils choosing to take religious
studies at GCSE level, with an increasing number of schools having no
pupils at all taking the
subject».
Wilshaw's speech comes in the midst of a government drive to encourage
pupils to
study for more academic GCSE qualifications by using performance tables to punish schools that fail to enrol
pupils in its English baccalaureate suite of
subjects.
Subject difficulty is «the lesser of three concerns» for
pupils when choosing what to
study, a report by the exams regulator Ofqual has found.
We are committed to overturning a culture of low expectations that for too long discouraged capable
pupils, predominantly from disadvantaged backgrounds, from
studying the core academic
subjects that open doors to their future.
This may concern some in the school system if it is leading to the range of
subjects pupils are
studying narrowing earlier than it has done.
It is not good for
pupils to be put in early in a school's hope they can «bank» a C - it is far better that children
study the
subject fully and take it when they are ready.»
Obtaining a C - grade in the core
subject of English is crucial for
pupils wishing to go on to a further education college or to
study A-levels.
The government said it was «committed to ensuring that all students have access to an excellent, well - rounded education», and the EBacc would «still enable
pupils to continue to
study additional
subjects that reflect their individual interests and strengths, including the arts
subjects».
It insisted «there will continue to be room for students to
study other
subjects», but added that although suggestions to «include additional
subjects or pillars within the EBacc» had been considered, it was decided that this «could reduce
pupil choice at GCSE to the point where no other
subjects can be
studied».
«Given so many
pupils are already learning about the arts through extra-curricular activities, some may choose not to
study these
subjects in the classroom too.»
• Triple science:
pupils study physics, chemistry and biology as separate
subjects, gain three GCSEs (one in each
subject) and can progress to science A-levels
Pupils studying the reformed biology A-level have shown better practical skills than whose who took the
subject before the government's recent reforms, a new report from Ofqual shows.
«Today's figures are a vindication of our reforms to ensure
pupils study for qualifications in
subjects that boost their life chances and open the door to future success.
«At key stage 4, the government does not believe it is right that every student should have to
study an arts
subject, but all
pupils in maintained schools have a statutory entitlement to be able to
study an arts
subject if they wish.»
«We have introduced the EBacc so more
pupils are encouraged to
study the core academic
subjects that universities and employers demand and we will be introducing a new, far more rigorous examination system.»
However,
pupil numbers are expected to grow by four per cent at primary level and 20 per cent at secondary by 2026, meaning a large number of additional teachers are needed, especially in EBacc
subjects, which the government wants 90 per cent of
pupils to
study by 2025.
New rules were introduced in the 2014 - 15 school year meaning
pupils that did not achieve a C in maths and English and wanted to go on to post-16
study had to resit those
subjects.