[eal-bilingual] QCA considers new EAL GCSE

Thanks Tim
I agree very much with your comments 

Paul Butcher  
Senior Ethnic Minority Achievement Consultant 
Peterborough  

-----Original Message-----
From: eal-bilingual-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:eal-bilingual-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of
Timspaff at aol.com
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 8:54 AM
To: eal-bilingual at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [eal-bilingual] QCA considers new EAL GCSE 

Yeah, I saw it. I don't really see the point of it really.It'll only be
of value if it allows pupils to achieve a certain GCSE English grade
equivalent where the constraints of the GCSE mean they are unable to
show their level of English otherwise....what we don't want is EAL
classes to supplant students'  
studying English with their English speaking peers.

In a message dated 10/06/2007 20:53:48 GMT Standard Time,
billboll1 at mac.com
writes:

This  appeared in the EMA Online  newsletter.

http://www.emaonline.org.uk/ema/

QCA considers  new EAL GCSE
------------------------------------------

QCA are  considering introducing an EAL GCSE. Speaking to reporters at  
the  National Association of Head Teachers' annual conference in   
Bournemouth, Mick Waters, director of curriculum at the   
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, suggested that non-native   
English speakers should be recognised for reaching a certain level.   
He commented that QCA are 'at the very early stages of thinking what   
it would be like to provide a GCSE for children who have English as   
an additional language'. He continued that 'Given that working in   
another language is at the heart of the school experience for a   
significant number of pupils, it might be good to recognise that  they
have achieved certain criteria in the fundamental area of  English'.

The proposal has been criticized by Shadow Education  Secretary David
Willetts who argued that 'We should be doing  everything possible to
integrate children who don't have English as  their first language' He
added that 'Creating a separate exam  structure risks turning them into
second class  citizens'.

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