ESSEX teachers are gearing up for one the biggest shake-ups of the secondary school exam system.
Details of the new GCSEs, which will be tested by exams at the end of two years of study, are now being scoured by teachers across the county.
They are preparing to teach the new exams in English, English literature and maths next September, and in the sciences, languages and humanities the year after.
Pupils now in Year 9 – aged 13 and 14 – will be the guinea pigs for the English and maths papers, which will be graded from nine to one, rather than A* to G.
The aim of the new GCSEs is to raise British academic standards and bring them into line with those being achieved by teenagers in other countries, including China and Japan.
Tom Morgan, head of upper school at Chelmer Valley High School, believes the public may have more confidence in the new regime as it will be much tougher to achieve the top grade of a nine.
He said: "The public do have this perception that GCSEs have been getting easier as most schools say their results are better each year.
"I think the GCSEs have remained consistent over the past few years and it is the quality of the teaching that has improved.
"The introduction of the new levels will mean more discrimination between high achievers – level nine will be the holy grail – only the very, very best students will gain this."
Mr Morgan said he welcomes the return of linear exams and the removal of continuous assessment tasks in English, as this will give teachers more time to actually teach the subject.
The revamped GCSEs come as the Government has brought in an entirely new National Curriculum this autumn, affecting all learning.
Andrew Weaver, deputy head teacher at The Sandon School explained: "Some topics are now being taught at a lower level; for instance some secondary science must now be covered in primary schools, and some GCSE level maths has come down to Key Stage Three.
"We are busy making sure our curriculum meets these changes while also swotting up on the new GCSE specifications.
"I'm pleased the new maths GCSE, which still has algebra and geometry, now includes functional maths, based on real-life problem solving.
"We must welcome a rigorous, high-quality exam system, which will allow our pupils to compete on a world-class level."
Tom Carter, acting head teacher at King Edward VI Grammar School, said the school was looking forward to the new exams.
Although its pupils take the usual English and maths, in nine other subjects including the sciences and some languages, pupils take international IGCSES, which are mainly exam-based.
Mr Carter said: "Not all the specifications have been published so far but I think we will opt for the new GCSEs in most subjects.
"We have no objections to the exam shake-up and welcome the stretch and challenge that the new GCSEs will offer students."
