Commenting on the OCR’s report 'Striking the Balance: A review of 11-16 curriculum and assessment in England', Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The OCR’s report is further evidence of a breadth of consensus across the sector that our exam system is not fit for purpose.
“NEU members have reported since their introduction that reformed GCSEs are far too overloaded with content. This is to the detriment of deep, meaningful learning, the workload of teachers and the wellbeing of students.
“We agree that the volume of assessment is too great at 16 and the methods used are too narrow. We support the idea that assessment should be reduced and spread out, to minimise risk, and that greater non-exam assessment should be utilised in order to properly capture all that students are capable of.
“Teachers must be involved in the creation of any changes and those changes must be implemented sustainably, all of which must not add to teachers’ already overburdened workload. Put simply, time and resources have to be made available.
“Given the OCR’s intervention, as well as the forthcoming Government review, it is ever clearer that all in the sector are crying out for change. The goal is a system of curriculum and assessment which is broader, more diverse, more inclusive and fit for the future.”