The Independent Schools Council is a politically independent, not-for-profit organisation representing 1,270 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children. It exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education, developing talent at all levels of ability and from all backgrounds.

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Independent schools: Tomlinson strengthens the best of current system

18 October 2004

Independent school associations today welcomed the publication of the final report of the Tomlinson working group of 14-19 curriculum and assessment reform. In a statement issued on behalf of the four ISC heads' associations which represent senior independent schools, they said:

The working party is to be congratulated on producing a blueprint which addresses major issues in the nation's education provision but builds on what is best and most important in the current system.

We are particularly pleased that the standards represented by current A-levels will be preserved in the components of the advanced diploma and indeed will be strengthened by the incorporation of the Advanced Extension Award, allowing the most able to show their full potential.

It is gratifying that the working party heeded not only our call for a significant reduction in coursework and the overall assessment burden, but also the preservation of subject choice at advanced level.

Equally welcome is the end of the link between qualifications and specific ages - something for which the independent sector has long argued.

There are, however, a number of recommendations which will concern our schools. The proposed extended project will need to be implemented very carefully. There is a risk of re-introducing a large element of coursework and an increased danger of plagiarism. It must also be flexible enough to meet individual students' needs and interests.

Many schools will also be concerned about the evolution of GCSE into diploma components and will need reassurance that subject coherence and standards will be maintained and that some form of external assessment at age 16 will still be available for those who want it.

Mrs Cynthia Hall, president of the Girls' Schools Association, commented: "Independent schools are mostly fortunate in not having to face some of the problems, like high drop-out rates, that Mike Tomlinson's working group have had to address. We can thank them therefore for the care with which they have preserved what was best in the current system while coming up with imaginative solutions to major national issues. We particularly welcome the increased challenge represented in the proposals which should assist universities in selecting students on individual merit."

Dr Martin Stephen, chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, said: "Almost all of the recommendations the associations made to Tomlinson have found their way into the final report and I believe that our schools will welcome most of the proposals. The solution to the problem of differentiation at the top end of A level is imaginative in that it will allow the most able to show what they are capable of without devaluing the achievements of others."

Michael James, chairman of the Society of Heads of Independent Schools, commented: "Our schools will be very pleased with Tomlinson's clear support for the idea that qualifications should be taken at a time appropriate to students' needs and abilities. This should signal the end of DfES performance tables in their current format."

David Vanstone, chairman-elect of the Independent Schools Association, said: "The Tomlinson blueprint is encouraging as the working group has paid genuine attention to the representations made by the independent sector. This strengthens the hope that the wide-ranging proposals can be made to serve the long term needs of our children. There is diversity in our schools and clearly therefore a need for clarification of practicalities to ensure any change recognises the differing needs of individuals and guarantees the flexibility to do this."

Amongst the Tomlinson recommendations the ISC associations welcome are:

The preservation of subject choice at advanced level;
The reduction in the examination burden and in coursework and a revision of syllabuses to move away from atomistic and mechanistic assessments;
The strengthening of A2 and the integration of the Advanced Extension Award (AEA) allowing the most able to be stretched by recognising achievement above the current A grade;
The end of age-linking;
The introduction of a national transcript making explicit what a student has achieved;
Recognition of the value of extra-curricular activities without additional formal assessments;
The proposed flexibility to allow students to bypass formal certification at lower levels where appropriate;
The 10-year implementation timetable, although associations hope for the earliest possible reduction in the assessment burden.

They remain concerned about:

The danger of reintroducing large amounts of coursework in the extended project;
The danger of erosion of subject coherence and standards as current exams, and especially GCSE, evolve into diploma components;
The shift to more internal assessment which, whilst welcome, might add considerably to teachers' workload and bureaucracy.

Note: The four associations are the Girls' Schools Association, the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, the Independent Schools Association, and the Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools. On 20 January 2004, they issued a statement of their recommendations for the future of the 14-19 curriculum.