The usual outcry has followed the annual GCSE results which were sent out yesterday. So my question is this:

 

Is my qualification in English worth more than my son’s on the basis that less people received top grades in the subject in 1978?

 

My Answer:

My qualification in English is now worth little if anything at all. If I were to apply for a new job today, I doubt a prospective employer would be as interested in my grade at ‘O’ level English as long as my application form or CV contained good spelling and grammar.

 

I am more interested in the education my son has received during his 12 years at school so far. The quality of the teaching, the challenges presented to him, the way in which learning has been promoted within the classroom and school generally. In the last two years there have been issues over teaching quality when a teacher left and the use of supply teachers by the school. There have been problems with general behaviour within the classroom and the way in which different teachers have been able to control their classes. On the other hand there has been excellent levels of encouragement and support particularly during the run up to the exams. The school let students know how important they felt the exams were, obviously for their own reasons which relate to league tables, but also because many of the staff actually care about the children they teach. My part was in encouraging study and revision to take place, to show an interest in the subjects being studied and to be slightly strict when appropriate levels of work didn’t seem to be being done and too much partying seemed to be taking place.

 

Back to English; I was taught during the progressive 70’s when content was given a higher value than the grammar and rules of English. I would assess the level of education Matt has received has been superior. He has a greater understanding of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs and the like, either that or I have forgotten what I learned. It is easy to criticise, easy to say everything has been ‘dumbed down’. But if I were a 16 year old who had worked hard for my B grade in English I’d be a little fed up today that so many older people are belittling my achievement.