Cumbrian head hits out over English baccalaureate qualification

January 21 2011

A Cumbrian headteacher has spoken out over the government's decision to include English baccalaureate rankings in this year's GCSE league table.

Speaking to the Times and Star, Chris McGrath of Stainburn School in Workington suggested that pupils should study a wide range of subjects and highlighted the importance of gaining IT skills.

"Some 50 per cent of our pupils last year left with five A* to C grades in English, maths, at least two sciences and ICT," he told the news provider.

"It is a real concern for us that the newly announced English baccalaureate provides little or no incentive to pursue these areas of study.

"As a school only ten per cent of our pupils opted to study for both a modern foreign language and a history or geography qualification last year and yet we are to be retrospectively judged on them."

Mr McGrath expressed frustration that the baccalaureate qualification ignores ICT, which he described as a "critical area".

He added that pupils will be using ICT skills when they leave school and enter employment.

In an article for the Guardian last week, journalist and broadcaster Yvonne Roberts said league tables can be demotivating for struggling students.

She claimed that the coalition's baccalaureate plans threaten to discourage rather than encourage poor-performing pupils.

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