GSCE LEAGUE TABLES

11 January 2007

Commenting on the results from the new GCSE  league tables Steve Sinnott General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Britain’s largest teaching union said :

“It would be unfair to see the drop in GCSE league table scores when factoring in grade C for English and Mathmatics as the fault of schools.

“In fact the latest secondary league tables highlight the Governments lack of joined up thinking. Of course the basics are essential but the Government hasn’t yet freed up the over prescribed 11-14  curriculum to enable teachers to concentrate on the basics when children need it.

“The changes in percentage scores highlight the absurdity in school league tables themselves. Youngsters are not automatic failures if they do not achieve grade C’s . They may have achieved wonders to get to a grade D yet that achievement is written off.

“ I call on the Government, yet again, to ensure that the whole damaging system of performance league tables and targets is reviewed”.