GCSEs in EBacc subjects
In June 2015, the government announced that it wanted the vast majority of pupils starting secondary school this September to take GCSEs in EBacc subjects when they take their GCSEs in 2020. In November 2015, the Department for Education launched a consultation on their proposals to implement this commitment. The consultation will run from 03 Nov 2015 – 29 Jan 2016 at 5:00pm.
“It must be right that every child studies a strong academic core up until the age of 16,” said Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, “And that’s why I think every child should study maths, English, history or geography, a language and the sciences up until the age of 16. Not because I think these subjects are the only ones that matter… (but) because these subjects are the academic core, the foundations of a good education that ultimately will keep options open for young people’s future.”
While the government wants to see at least 90% of pupils in mainstream secondary schools entered for the EBacc subjects at GCSE, but recognises that taking the full EBacc will remain inappropriate for a small minority of pupils.
The consultation is seeking your views on:
- what factors schools should consider when deciding that a pupil shouldn’t take all the GCSE subjects for the EBacc,
- the proposed changes to the range of data published about school performance,
- the challenges of implementing the EBacc, including teacher recruitment, and
- the impact of these proposals on pupils with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
What happens now:
ALL is collecting the views of members about these issues, and would value your opinion.
Click here to find out more about the consultation.
To tell us what you think, please click here to complete our questionnaire.
To respond to the consultation individually, you can respond online,
or complete a response form and either
Email it to: [email protected]
Or write to: Maleck Boodoo, Curriculum and Standards Division, Department for Education, Great Smith Street, London SW1 3BT
More information:
ALL will continue to keep you informed, via its website, newsletter and publications, of updates to the national curriculum review. If you would like to contribute to ALL’s responses to government consultations, please do contact us with your views.
News and comment:
Traditional GCSE subjects for all pupils: All secondary school pupils in England will have to take GCSEs in core academic subjects, under plans to be set out by Schools Minister Nick Gibb.
Schools face pressure under plans to target academic GCSEs: Education secretary to say schools that fail to enter students into more academic subjects will be highlighted for parents by performance tables