Transcription of hard news story.

00.02 Laura: Why do you think the governments are making changes to Alevel exams? 00.04 00.05 Peter: Well what they say they are doing raise standards erm and ensure students are reaching a higher levels. Erm, they want to try to address some of the concerns that have been raised by some of the universities particularly some of the more competitive universities. And they are keen to sort of train and educate young people better Err because they feel thats, thats economic needs for your employers asking for other skills. So thats what seems to be happening. Err, they seem to be making it more competitive, looking to make it more competitive and a little bit more selective it may well be that as a result of this some of the less targeted subjects are effected in terms of numbers. 00.49 00.50 Laura: What impact do you think this will make on Oldham sixth form students? 00.53 00.54 Peter: Well, I think whatever they, the government throws at us our students and the college will, will respond and respond positively. Erm I dont think it will affect the results or the outcomes but I think one of the concerns that they have is that it is very much a one chance, one chance system that we are driving towards. One or a couple of exams at the end of two years rather than a module system, a module system works well as in it gives the students and opportunity to look at how they have performed and improve. And it does build in, you know it builds in a consideration that on occasions people make mistakes and they have an, erm an off day. This doesnt seem to want to allow that and so its one chance only, and that, you know that doesnt really allow students to develop, or take, take a rain check as to how well they are doing. At university most courses are module so youll have exams all the way through, so this doesnt look like good preparation for university. And I think it doesnt really build in a maturation facture where students need time to develop and you know they can do exams and they can take a check to how well they are doing and what they need to priorities. So I am not particularly in favor of this system, I think that certainly having exams in the first year, formal external exam in the first year. Is a good thing I think universities like it to because it helps them, when making decisions about making choices about who they want. Erm, I can see arguments for both ways about abolishing the January exams because I think that in some ways they arent always, students arent always ready for them they can be a bit demoralizing and they can be quit disruptive however they do have the advantage of showing people how well they are doing at a certain point in time. 02.36 02.38 Laura: Do you think this will affect progression to university? 02.40 02.41

Peter: Well I think the danger is that it might put some people off doing Alevels. It might be that the very brightest retain that level of confidence that the people, that maybe have to work harder or dont get the same very good GCSE err grades. May think twice and they may think twice about going to university. However, you know I think some people also realize that a university qualification degree, erm by definition gives people a better chance of earning a better salary and better career prospects. So, it may be a deterrent to some extent however I do think that erm, you know people realize that getting Alevels and going to university will remain attractive and certainly thats something we will be pushing very hard as a college. 03.28 03.29 Laura: Whats your opinion on these changes? 03.31 03.32 Peter: What I have just said in a way really, I mean, I am a bit sort of am not in favor of the terminal end of year exam Alevel exam. Thats what I did, I didnt do any coursework and I just did exams at the end of the second year of an Alevel program, and erm, I mean did okay but I think often, you know, you make one slipup in an exam and that will affect your final grade. I do like the idea that people have more than one go, they can learn from their mistakes and its not, it shouldnt be one chance and youre out. I am concerned that it might suit people from more privileged backgrounds better than people from disadvantaged backgrounds. It might, it might not be the same, it might be a disincentive to people from different minority ethnic groups. It might, it might not necessarily do the things that Oldham needs which is get more people into education, and well educated so that they can move on and help the town to develop. Their my concerns, erm, and am not convinced that universities really want what the government say they want, I mean the government likes, the universities like AS exams and they like, seem to be confident about the Alevels as they stand at the moment. But we do seem to be moving towards a two tear system where theres a preference towards certain traditional Alevels. That could affect minority Alevels like Media Studies and erm, perhaps be, it might result in students making choices like with the, with the e-bac subjects at GCSE, of, of, of, of deciding to play safe with the more traditional Alevels. Which again I dont particularly good thing.