Too many GCSE exams are bad for health | Letters
The government’s curriculum review needs to be bold and cut what’s not working for young people, says Myles McGinley. Plus a letter from Prof Michael BasseyThe emerging evidence on exams...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
The government’s curriculum review needs to be bold and cut what’s not working for young people, says Myles McGinley . Plus a letter from Prof Michael Bassey The emerging evidence on exams and mental health is alarming ( More exam stress at 15 linked to higher risk of depression as young adult – study, 12 February ). Exams are the fairest and most reliable way to assess what students know and can do. They provide a sense of achievement and can help to build resilience. But something is out of sync. Young people face too many GCSE exams over too short a period. As the Cambridge OCR exam board has shown , England’s 16-year-olds spend longer in exam halls than almost any of their international peers. Last year, the government committed to a 10% reduction in exam time. It’s a step in the right direction, when we need a leap. Continue reading...