Times letters: Concern over GCSE content and ‘ghost’ pupils

Sir, Your article (“‘Bloated’ GCSE curriculum must be reduced, say education experts”, news, May 7) is spot on in identifying that GCSEs are not fit for purpose. However, while the Social Market Foundation suggests that we need to thin out content, another approach is possible. Since 2005 Bedales has been swapping outdated GCSEs for our own qualifications, which allows greater flexibility in selecting content and deploying a broader range of assessments. We also reduce the high stakes of these qualifications, taken by pupils aged between 14 and 16, by keeping them in-house with no external accreditation (our students pursue education to the age of 18 so do not need an “exit ticket” at 16), maintaining rigour through visiting moderators.

Crucially, in moving away from GCSEs (alongside other schools in the Rethinking Assessment group), we can claw back extra learning time. This maintains a challenging and rich curriculum without the need to cut content. In a time when the value of independent schools is being questioned, surely this is an example of the sector having the freedom to develop new approaches that can then be scaled up to the benefit of pupils in all schools?
Will Goldsmith
Head of Bedales School, Steep, Hants

Sir, Barnaby Lenon (letter, May 8) acknowledges the suggestion that reducing the content of some GCSEs might be considered a means of addressing a “bloated curriculum”. However, he is understandably concerned that reducing the number and length of exam papers could make results “less reliable”. There is an easy solution: follow the example of many independent schools and extend the school day to 4pm.
Susan Bickley
Huntingdon, Cambs

Sir, Barnaby Lenon makes the observation that the content of some GCSEs may be too great. I would suggest that it is not necessarily the content of what is taught that is the issue with GCSEs: what is concerning is the pressure placed on 16-year-olds, in terms of the expectations to do well and to achieve, by a complex exam system organised at national level, with the results then published in the form of league tables. Countless students in most other countries do well enough without such a system at that age, possibly on the basis that it may well do more harm than good.
Graham Davies
Former teacher of Spanish, Bogotá, Colombia

Sir, The discussion of high absence levels in schools often pins the blame on “internal” factors such as a child’s poor mental health (“One ‘ghost child’ per class missing most lessons”, May 7). But we should recognise that education is fundamentally a product offered to families to improve their children’s lives. If any other product were not being taken up by customers, wouldn’t we look at the product rather than the customer? When almost a third of pupils in Year 11 (and almost half of poorer pupils) are persistently absent, and international Pisa data show that our 15-year-olds have the highest fear of failure and the lowest life satisfaction of all European countries taking part, something is surely wrong with our curriculum and assessment system. Many pupils are simply voting with their feet.
Jean Gross
Stetchworth, Cambs

Supporting Taiwan

Sir, Taiwan has trodden a delicate path between building a robust democracy while avoiding a declaration of independence that could provoke violent action from the People’s Republic of China. But as Edward Lucas writes, the “annual geopolitical farce” of Taiwan’s application to attend the World Health Organisation’s annual meeting will once again be vetoed by Beijing (“It’s high time Britain did more for Taiwan”, May 6). If the UK is serious about limiting China’s bid for world power and the danger it poses in the Pacific region, it should start to act now. Lucas comes up with many do-able actions but, additionally, the UK might consider the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions against selected Chinese officials; strict prohibitions on the importation of any technology capable of surveillance, such as electric cars and all cellular Internet of Things modules; and passing strict criminal sanctions on any attempts to kidnap or harm Chinese citizens abroad, including those from Hong Kong.

Sending a clear message about bullying and flouting of the existing rules-based order would not be well received by China but it would be understood. There will be a trade cost but the economic cost of not taking action will be far, far greater.
Baroness D’Souza
House of Lords

Protests over Gaza

Sir, I disagree with Daniel Finkelstein that the majority of those protesting about what is going on in Gaza are driven by a desire to destroy Israel (“Starmer doesn’t need Gaza extremists’ vote”, May 8). He is right that their slogans are one-sided. That is unsurprising; these are protesters, not diplomats. You didn’t hear much from anti-Iraq war protesters about the evils of Saddam Hussein. But the one hard piece of evidence we have for what lies behind the Labour Party rebellion against Keir Starmer’s stance is the 18 demands put together by recently elected rebel councillors (report, May 7). These, while no doubt irritating reading for hardline supporters of Israel, do not point at all in the direction of Israel’s destruction.
Sir Tony Brenton
Former British ambassador to Russia; Cambridge

Sir, Rishi Sunak’s statement about the unacceptable rise in antisemitism on UK university campuses (news, May 8) is notable for the lack of data backing up his assertion. Moreover, by failing to address the separate but related issue of deep hostility and harassment towards those who express support for the plight of the Palestinians, the prime minister may have unintentionally deepened the level of mistrust in his government on this matter. Similar to antisemitism, hate against those who support the Palestinians and their claim to statehood is frequently based on race and religious grounds, but the hostility levelled against them has been largely ignored.

The actions of Israel in Gaza are in response to the events of October 7. Whether they are focused and proportionate is a matter that all UK citizens — including students — who are interested in social justice and international law have a right to comment upon.
Carmen Reynolds
London SW3

Two wheels bad?

Sir, My outrage on reading about the cyclist involved in a fatal collision in Regent’s Park who could not be prosecuted because speed limits do not apply to bicycles (news, May 6) was mitigated by knowing that it was shared by Robert Crampton and Melanie Phillips (May 7; letters, May 8). Sadiq Khan is right to be concerned about air pollution but he is seemingly unconcerned about the public’s growing concern about reckless cycling. Cycling lobbies cite statistics, but these do not present the true danger of non-fatal injuries, near-misses and pedestrian trauma. I was knocked over by a cyclist, but as the rider did not stop and obviously did not have a number plate there wasn’t even enough for an incident report. It’s time for a referendum on regulating cyclists.
Joyce Glasser
London NW3

Sir, Reflecting on 35 years of commuting by bike into the centre of Glasgow, I would say that the number of times I have had to raise my hands to gesture to motorists has remained fairly constant. The difference is that today I invariably do so to acknowledge courtesies from respectful drivers. I am not sure that we as cyclists have correspondingly improved our behaviours over the same period.
Stephen Miller
Glasgow

City transparency

Sir, James Hurley is right to call out the City on its opposition to proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority to name companies that are subject to investigation (Thunderer, May 7). Our research this year showed that FCA enforcement is in serious decline, with bans on directors dropping 62 per cent and the number of fines against individuals halving over the past decade. Strong enforcement by the FCA is critical to maintaining the UK’s reputation as a financial centre with strong standards and real integrity. Meanwhile, there is no good reason why the financial sector should be exempt from being named when investigations are announced — this is a perfectly normal measure that most other regulators use all the time.
Dr Susan Hawley
Executive director, Spotlight on Corruption

Language of cancer

Sir, It is important to distinguish between terminal, and advanced (or incurable) cancer. Terminal means no longer amenable to treatment. These days effective systemic medical and other focal therapies such as radiotherapy can give those with many incurable malignancies, especially breast and prostate cancer, a markedly prolonged lifespan and pretty good quality of life. The definition of a terminal phase of cancer triggers access to many specifics, such as financial allowances and life insurance pay-outs. Unfortunately, the common use of the terms incurable and terminal being synonymous (“CoppaFeel founder, 38, dies of cancer”, news, May 7) also lie behind the badly outdated algorithms of many insurance companies for travel policies, not reflecting the strides of medical advances that mean many of us who are living with cancer may do so for many years after diagnosis. These terms should be used with greater care and understanding of their impact.
Professor Adrian Crellin
Consultant clinical oncologist and now cancer patient; Thorner, Leeds

Misreading hymns

Sir, Professor Ian Bradley (letter, May 6) claims that the presence of a comma in the third line of the “naughty” verse of All Things Bright and Beautiful renders it acceptable, as that line then means that God made everyone, irrespective of their social standing (“high” or “lowly”). Alas for his reading of the hymn, the fourth line goes on “and ordered their estate”, making it clear that Mrs Alexander considered that God had set up who was high or lowly — a rather typical Victorian misreading of Scripture.
The Rev Professor Steve Walton
Trinity College, Bristol

Sir, The hymn And Can It Be (letter, May 8) was chosen a few years ago to be sung during our annual civic service, to which the county’s mayors and consorts, all in full regalia, had been invited. Fortunately, in spite of some gleeful anticipation, the singing of the line “Our chains fell off” passed without incident.
Christine Matthews
Former Mayoress of Wilton; Wilton, Wilts

Baby food

Sir, Further to Keith Dovkants’s letter (May 7), “babies heads” were in fact tinned steak and kidney puddings: when opened top side up, they usually had a concave depression in the centre, not unlike the aforementioned.
Derek Taylor
Spennymoor, Co Durham

Facing the music

Sir, Rufus Wainwright blames Brexit and insular audiences who lack curiosity for the dismal box office performance of his Opening Night musical (“Brexit mindset blamed for Sheridan Smith musical closing early”, May 8). If Wainwright had concentrated more on writing sharper lyrics rather than the frequently trite and repetitive pop-song verse that he penned, then perhaps, just perhaps, the show might have been saved. Sheridan Smith and most of her supporting cast are fantastic. Wainwright, however, has a lot to answer for.
Jonathan Baz
Critic and member of the Critics Circle; Northwood, Middx