I despair of the education system.

Andypandyboy

I wouldn't regard a c as a good pass for my kids, but it is a good pass for those who struggle to achieve. The danger with it is that schools put the bulk of their resources at the C/D borderline to bolster their own results. Those who are above that are already considered to have "achieved" so get less time allocated to them.

As has been said, employers and HE view the grades very differently. FE colleges accept lower grades to fill vocational places.

Cornucopia

IIRC, the issue of GCSE grades goes back to the merger of GCEs and CSEs to become a single qualification.

GCEs were slotted in as grades A-C of GCSEs, and CSEs below that - presumably with a CSE grade 1 equating to C or D in the GCSE.

On that basis, it would be unfair not to treat someone who would previously have "passed" CSEs to a similar pass in GCSE.

Pennywise

Cornucopia wrote: »

On that basis, it would be unfair not to treat someone who would previously have "passed" CSEs to a similar pass in GCSE.

Not half as unfair as the grade inflation. Back in the 80's very few got As, even fewer got A*. The bright kids in our class got Bs and a few got As, I don't recall A* at all. Most got Cs and Ds. Nowadays it seems A and A* are given out like sweets. So someone with a C in 1980s is looked down upon compared to those taking the exams in the last decade but in reality that person would have got an A under the inflated grade system of today.

GwylimT

missbiggles1 wrote: »

What a terrible admission from a teacher!

So are teachers now required to have perfect grammar in a variety of foreign languages now?

Ha, AQA, in this years B1 exam there was a question that was not only on their own syllabus, but the mark scheme was also incorrect for this question. The mark scheme said schwann cells, the actual answer is kupffer cells.

I quite like their own use of "good" does not that speak volumes?

Have you actually seen the C grade questions in maths, English and science lately? Some are KS3 material, being able to answer a year seven question most certainly does not provide a good grade.

missbiggles1

GwylimT wrote: »

So are teachers now required to have perfect grammar in a variety of foreign languages now?

Ha, AQA, in this years B1 exam there was a question that was not only on their own syllabus, but the mark scheme was also incorrect for this question. The mark scheme said schwann cells, the actual answer is kupffer cells.

I quite like their own use of "good" does not that speak volumes?

Have you actually seen the C grade questions in maths, English and science lately? Some are KS3 material, being able to answer a year seven question most certainly does not provide a good grade.

Teachers are supposed to have a minumum of a grade C in English Language which should, by rights, include correct use of basic punctuation. Foreign language skills obviously only come into it for teachers of MFL.

What I personally think of the standard of a grade C is irrelevant (I'll give you a clue, not much.;)), in common parlance grade C is a "good pass" as I've shown.

missbiggles1

Cornucopia wrote: »

IIRC, the issue of GCSE grades goes back to the merger of GCEs and CSEs to become a single qualification.

GCEs were slotted in as grades A-C of GCSEs, and CSEs below that - presumably with a CSE grade 1 equating to C or D in the GCSE.

On that basis, it would be unfair not to treat someone who would previously have "passed" CSEs to a similar pass in GCSE.

In the days of O levels/CSEs, the national average was 5 grade Ds at CSE, now it's grade C at GCSE. And some people say there's no grade inflation!

GwylimT

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Teachers are supposed to have a minumum of a grade C in English Language which should, by rights, include correct use of basic punctuation. Foreign language skills obviously only come into it for teachers of MFL.

What I personally think of the standard of a grade C is irrelevant (I'll give you a clue, not much.;)), in common parlance grade C is a "good pass" as I've shown.

If parents want a teacher with a C grade at GCSE English (or equivalent for older staff) then surely they are sending their children to English schools. Education is not limited to England or English.

Andypandyboy

GwylimT wrote: »

So are teachers now required to have perfect grammar in a variety of foreign languages now?

Ha, AQA, in this years B1 exam there was a question that was not only on their own syllabus, but the mark scheme was also incorrect for this question. The mark scheme said schwann cells, the actual answer is kupffer cells.

I quite like their own use of "good" does not that speak volumes?

Have you actually seen the C grade questions in maths, English and science lately? Some are KS3 material, being able to answer a year seven question most certainly does not provide a good grade.

In England ( I don't know if it is applicable to the rest of the UK) teachers have to sit competency tests in English and Maths before completing their PGCE or teaching degree. So, yes, if you teach in a school in England you should have a level of English which would equate to a C at GCSE. I assume you don't;)

GwylimT

Andypandyboy wrote: »

In England ( I don't know if it is applicable to the rest of the UK) teachers have to sit competency tests in English and Maths before completing their PGCE or teaching degree. So, yes, if you teach in a school in England you should have a level of English which would equate to a C at GCSE. I assume you don't;)

I have no idea how to qualify as a teacher in England.

Pennywise

GwylimT wrote: »

Have you actually seen the C grade questions in maths, English and science lately? Some are KS3 material, being able to answer a year seven question most certainly does not provide a good grade.

The 11+ exam contains remarkably similar questions to the foundation levels at GCSE in Maths and English. We were gobsmacked when an 11+ tutor said he uses past GCSE papers as practice for the 11+! So, basically, someone who passes the 11+ is already at C grade level of foundation GCSE in Maths and English. Scary stuff!