By Vivienne Russell
6 January 2010
External examinations have become a costly drain on school budgets, education experts have warned.
In a document published today, the National Education Trust and the Association of School and College Leaders, argued that the money spent on the school testing regime, including GCSEs, amounted to ‘wastage’ and needed to be slashed.
Around 30m examinations are sat by young people in schools each year, the pamphlet, Assessing assessment, said.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority recently estimated that £700m is spent each year on administering exams. In a large secondary school, external examination costs are second only to staff costs as the largest item of expenditure.
Roy Blatchford, director of the National Education Trust said pupils sat too many exams, and at the wrong time.
‘With compulsory education and training soon to extend to age 18, the hiatus of GCSEs at age 16 will become increasingly unnecessary,’ he said.
‘Assessment should be an internal matter for schools and colleges.’
John Dunford, ASCL general secretary, added: ‘The cost of external examinations is excessive and takes up too high a proportion of school and college budgets… Especially in the current economic climate, this money could be put to better use elsewhere.’
6 January 2010
External examinations have become a costly drain on school budgets, education experts have warned.
In a document published today, the National Education Trust and the Association of School and College Leaders, argued that the money spent on the school testing regime, including GCSEs, amounted to ‘wastage’ and needed to be slashed.
Around 30m examinations are sat by young people in schools each year, the pamphlet, Assessing assessment, said.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority recently estimated that £700m is spent each year on administering exams. In a large secondary school, external examination costs are second only to staff costs as the largest item of expenditure.
Roy Blatchford, director of the National Education Trust said pupils sat too many exams, and at the wrong time.
‘With compulsory education and training soon to extend to age 18, the hiatus of GCSEs at age 16 will become increasingly unnecessary,’ he said.
‘Assessment should be an internal matter for schools and colleges.’
John Dunford, ASCL general secretary, added: ‘The cost of external examinations is excessive and takes up too high a proportion of school and college budgets… Especially in the current economic climate, this money could be put to better use elsewhere.’
