Calls Grow for Overhaul of 'Mechanistic' GCSE English Curriculum

The AQA exam board urges reforms to make GCSE assessments more practical and less burdensome as a government consultation concludes.

Colin Hughes, CEO of AQA, described the current GCSE English curriculum as uninspiring and overly mechanistic, calling for immediate reforms.
AQA recommends reducing exam burdens by cutting the number of exam papers and exploring modular or alternative assessment methods.
The exam board advocates for incorporating real-world skills like oracy, literacy, and digital fluency into GCSE qualifications.
Education leaders criticize the policy of compulsory resits for students failing to achieve a grade 4 in English or maths, labeling it demotivating for many teenagers.
The Department for Education acknowledges the need for curriculum reforms to better prepare students for life and work, aiming for a more modern and practical system.