The final (phase 2) report was published of an independent inquiry on A-level standards. It made proposals designed to secure the validity of the examining process in 2003, and also on how the system might be developed in the future. It said that in the long term brighter students should be allowed to skip AS-level courses and exams. (The purpose of the inquiry was to resolve major concerns expressed over the grading of A levels in the summer of 2002.) (A = Advanced: AS = Advanced Subsidiary)
Source: Mike Tomlinson, Inquiry into A Level Standards: Final Report, Inquiry into A Level Standards (020 7273 5140) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 3.12.02, columns 771-781, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Independent article | Hansard
Date: 2002-Dec
A think tank said it hopes to pilot a 'primary baccalaureate'. It would be a qualification that children could work on throughout their primary years, but dedicate much of years five and six towards. Its main purpose would be to allow every pupil, armed with good literacy and numeracy skills, to discover and pursue their one or two learning passions in much greater detail.
Source: Press release 18.11.02, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
Results from a two-phase, cross-national study of citizenship education found that levels of civic knowledge among students in England are similar to the international average, and that students have an understanding of fundamental democratic values and institutions.
Source: David Kerr, Anne Lines, Sarah Blenkinshop and Ian Schagen, England's Results from the IEA International Citizenship Education Study: What Citizenship and Education Mean to 14 Year Olds, Research Report 375, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf) | NFER press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The man who led an official review of the summer 2002 A-level and AS-level exam marking reportedly said that it 'would not be possible to read much of value' into the related performance tables due to be published in January 2003. (A = Advanced: AS = Advanced Subsidiary)
Source: Comments by Mike Tomlinson, reported in The Observer, 17.11.02
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
An international report said that some 40 per cent of British pupils aged 14 or 15 cannot add up properly: but Britain still ranked seventh in a league table of 'rich' countries on overall academic skills.
Source: A League Table of Educational Disadvantage in Rich Nations, Innocenti Report Card 4, Innocenti Research Centre/United Nations Children s Fund, (+39 055 20330)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The schools inspectorate found that it is possible to meet the requirements of the national curriculum and still maintain an appropriate emphasis on literacy and numeracy.
Source: The Curriculum in Successful Primary Schools, HMI 553, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The Tomlinson report into the marking of the summer 2002 A-level and AS-level exams said that the grades of 1,953 entries needed to be revised, and that 1,945 individual students from 839 centres should be given at least one revised grade. The government said that the regrading exercise restored 'pride and confidence' in the A-level system. The new head of the exams regulatory body said that all necessary action would be taken to avoid a repeat of the chaos surrounding the 2002 results. (A = Advanced: AS = Advanced Subsidiary)
Source: Mike Tomlinson, Report on Outcomes of Review of A-Level Grading, Inquiry into A Level Standards (020 7273 5140) | Press release 15.10.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288) | Press release 11.10.02, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (020 7509 5555)
Links: Report | DfES press release | QCA press release | Hansard
Date: 2002-Oct
Following consultation, the Northern Ireland Executive confirmed that 11-plus transfer tests will be abolished as soon as practicable.
Source: Review of Post-Primary Education: Report on Consultation Responses, Department of Education/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9127 9573) | Press release 8.10.02, Department of Education/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9127 9391)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A report provided an analysis of the teaching of multicultural education in Jewish day schools, and revealed considerable variation in teaching practices.
Source: Geoffrey Short, Responding to Diversity? An initial investigation into multicultural education in Jewish schools in the United Kingdom, Institute for Jewish Policy Research (020 7935 8266)
Links: IJPR press release
Date: 2002-Oct
Early statistics for GCSE results (subject to checking by schools) showed that 51.2 per cent of pupils aged 15 in schools in England gained five or more A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ equivalent in 2001-02. (General Certificate of Secondary Education: GNVQ = General National Vocational Qualification)
Source: GCSE/GNVQ Results for Young People in England, 2001-02 (Early Statistics), Statistical First Release 26/2002, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The schools inspectorate found that the quality of after-school homework clubs is variable, and often fails to help disadvantaged students who are most in need of support.
Source: Learning Out Of Hours: The Quality and Management of Study Support In Secondary Schools, HMI 466, Office for Standards in Education (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A report said that the national literacy strategy is an ineffective way of helping children's language development; and that many of the tactics used, such as beginning each lesson by stating its objective, are not supported by research.
Source: Dominic Wyse, The National Literacy Strategy: A Critical Review of Empirical Evidence, School of Education, Community and Social Science/Liverpool John Moores University (0151 231 5310)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 3.3
Date: 2002-Sep
Citizenship became a compulsory part of the national curriculum for secondary schools in England from September 2002.
Source: Press release 27.9.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Provisional Key Stage 4 test results showed that 66 per cent of children aged 14 achieved level 5 or above in English in 2002 (a one point rise from 2001); 67 per cent did so in maths (up one point); and 66 did so in science (no change). (The government target is 75 per cent in English and maths, and 70 per cent in science, by 2004; and 85 per cent and 80 per cent respectively by 2007.)
Source: National Curriculum Assessments of 14 Year Olds in England, 2002 (Provisional), Statistical First Release 20/2002, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR 20/2002 (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
According to provisional statistics, the percentages of children in England reaching level 2 or above in 2002 at Key Stage 1 were: 84 per cent in reading (no change on 2001), 86 per cent in writing (no change), 78 per cent in spelling (up three points), and 90 per cent in maths (down one point). The percentages of children in England reaching level 4 or above in 2002 at Key Stage 2 were: 75 per cent in English (no change on 2001), 80 per cent in reading (two points down), 60 per cent in writing (three points up), 73 per cent in maths (two points up), and 86 per cent in science (one point down). (By 2004 the government has set a target of 85 per cent achieving level 4 in Key Stage 2 English and maths.)
Source: National Curriculum Assessments of 7 and 11 Year Olds in England 2002 (Provisional), Statistical First Release 21/2002, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR 21/2002 (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
The government announced an urgent inquiry (by the former Chief Inspector of Schools) into the grading of A-level and AS-level candidates for 2002. It welcomed the initial report, which identified concerns in setting grade boundaries for about 12 subjects. The head of the examinations watchdog left his post (claiming he had been sacked) after the report's author said that the chaos surrounding the results was 'an accident waiting to happen'. (A = Advanced: AS = Advanced Subsidiary)
Source: Press release 27.9.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288) | Mike Tomlinson, Inquiry into A Level Standards: Interim Report, Inquiry into A Level Standards (020 7273 5140) | The Guardian, 28.9.02
Links: DfES press release | Interim report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Sep
Information technology should be designated a basic skill along with literacy and numeracy, with free computer courses for all, according to an independent report.
Source: Get on with IT: The Post-16 E-Learning Strategy Task Force Report, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | DfES press release
Date: 2002-Aug
Provisional GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) results in England for 2002 showed that 57.9 per cent of pupils gained a 'good' grade (A*-C), a rise of 0.8 points compared to 2001. The government said the figures show movement in the right direction, but that there is still work to do if its 'ambitious' targets are to be reached.
Source: National Provisional GCSE (Full Course) Results - June 2002, Joint Council for General Qualifications (0161 958 3737) | Press release 21.8.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Results (pdf) | JCGQ press release | DfES press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A paper co-written by the architect of the national curriculum testing regime reportedly said that A-level (Advanced-level) grades are an unreliable guide to a student's ability.
Source: Paper by Paul Black and Dylan William (King's College, University of London), reported in The Independent, 14.8.02
Links: Independent article
Date: 2002-Aug
Provisional A-level (Advanced-level) results in England for 2002 indicated that pass rates (grades A to E) were up 4.5 points on 2001, to 94.3 per cent; and that A grades achieved were up 2.1 points, to 20.7 per cent. The government claimed the results showed it is achieving its twin aims of raising standards and increasing breadth and choice of study. However there were protests, led by private schools, over the alleged arbitrary downgrading of some candidates.
Source: National Provisional A Level (Curriculum 2000) GCE Results - June 2002, Joint Council for General Qualifications (0161 958 3737) | Press release 15.8.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288) | Press release 30.9.02, Independent Schools Council information service, (020 7798 1500)
Links: Results (pdf) | JCGQ press release | DfES press release | ISCis press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 3.7
Date: 2002-Aug
Final data was published showing 'key stage' 1, 2 and 3 assessments by subject, gender and level achieved (England, 2001).
Source: National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14 Year Olds in England by Local Education Authority and Government Office Region 2001 (Final Data), Department for Education and Skills (web only)
Links: Link removed
Date: 2002-Jul
Just over half of secondary schools in a sample made effective use of the two-year lead-in time to implement citizenship as a statutory subject from September 2002, according to a report from the Office for Standards in Education.
Source: Citizenship: Survey Report: Preparation for the Introduction of Citizenship in Secondary Schools 2001-2002, HMI 730, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A study found that both academic and vocational curricula for 16-19 year olds are undemanding and fail to ensure essential knowledge; and that the exam system fails to measure pupils fairly and consistently on a national basis.
Source: Sheila Lawlor (ed.), Comparing Standards: Academic and Vocational, 16-19 Year Olds, Politeia (020 7240 5070)
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Jul
A committee of MPs said that the 'double science' GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) course fails to provide a general science education for children aged 14-16, and needs to be changed.
Source: Science Education From 14 to 19, Third Report (Session 2001-02), HC 508-I, House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers reported favourably on the implementation of the foundation stage curriculum (for children aged three to six years) in reception classes.
Source: Taylor Nelson Sofres with Carol Aubrey, Implementing the Foundation Stage in Reception Classes, Research Report 350, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (Word file)
Date: 2002-Jun
The government ordered the body which regulates school exams to make urgent reforms in its methods, following a series of errors by examining bodies.
Source: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Quinquennial Review 2002, Department for Education and Skills (0114 2593626)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jun
A survey found the proficiency of children in England aged 15 in reading, maths and scientific literacy compares well with that of children in other countries.
Source: B. Gill et al., Student Achievement in England: Results in Reading, Mathematical and Scientific Literacy among 15-year-olds from OECD PISA 2000 Study, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 3.7)
Date: 2002-Jun
Final figures were published on national curriculum assessments for children aged 7, 11 and 14 (England, 2001).
Source: National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14 Year Olds in England: 2001, Statistical Bulletin, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 3.3)
Date: 2002-May
Five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C (or GNVQ equivalent) were achieved by 50 per cent of pupils aged 15, meeting the government target a year early (England, November 2001). (GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education: GNVQ = General National Vocational Qualification)
Source: GCSE/GNVQ and GCE A/AS/VCE/AGNVQ Examination Results 2000-01: England, Statistical Bulletin, Department for Education and Skills (web only)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 3.7)
Date: 2002-May
