On 25 September 2024, Litdrive joined more than a hundred educators, policy makers, and representatives from national organisations and exam boards to discuss what possible reform to the English GCSEs might look like. Delegates attended workshop sessions with the focus on finding solutions to existing issues and making suggestions for change.
Discussions included a range of key topics, including:
- Assessment Changes: Recommendations include reducing the assessment burden, implementing open-book exams, exploring modular assessment formats, and creating assessments that prioritise authentic responses over rote memorisation.
- Curriculum Updates: The English Language GCSE should align more closely with A-Level standards, include contemporary and diverse media, and emphasise linguistic knowledge. The English Literature GCSE should update its reading lists to feature more diverse, contemporary, and global texts.
- Teacher Autonomy and Training: There is a strong call for greater trust in teachers’ expertise, the need for continuous professional development (CPD), and opportunities for sharing best practice among educators.
- Inclusivity and Literacy: The reform must address the diverse literacy levels in classrooms, ensuring assessments do not disadvantage students from varied backgrounds, and recognising that improving literacy is a shared responsibility across disciplines, not just within English.
We were delighted that Litdrive was mentioned as a key resource for English teachers which highlights the need for subject-specific CPD provided by English teachers for English teachers. Ahead of the full Curriculum and Assessment Review to be undertaken by the incoming government, it is critical that the English community continue to support and shape how this might lead to positive change for the subject.
You can read the whole summary of the day here.