Will Goldsmith on GCSE reform

In a piece published by School Management Plus, Head of Bedales Will Goldsmith argues that now is the time for assessment reform if young people are to develop the skills needed to keep pace with technological change and tackle societal issues like inequality and climate change.

Pointing to Bedales Assessed Courses (BACs) as an example of an innovative approach to curriculum and assessment, Will explains that Bedales students have shown that young people can progress to A Level and university without the Progress 8 mandated minimum of eight GCSEs. “In fact," he writes, "we consider our students to be better prepared for further study and employment having followed this broader programme.”

Heartened by the launch of an inquiry into assessment reform and citing Bedales’ existing involvement with organisations such as Rethinking Assessment, Will goes on to say that Bedales plan to make a submission to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Schools Learning and Assessment to demonstrate how BACs offer a beneficial alternative to the current GCSE assessments.

Read the article in full here.

School Management Plus | Bedales Assessed Courses | Will Goldsmith