I was one of the last lot to do the old O-Levels at my school back in 1984 and it looks like my daughter will be in the first cohort to study the ‘new’ EBacc (a cross between an Ewok and Chewbacca?), 31 years later in 2015

 Although we don’t know the exact details yet, many of us parents and teachers are concerned that this will be a huge step backwards for teaching and learning, potentially ignoring many of the valuable lessons we have learned about teaching and assessment over the last 30 years. We need to ensure that we don’t confuse the application of learning and critical analysis with the ability to memorise and regurgitate a bunch of facts. Although my ability to quote Shakespeare at the drop of a hat constantly amazes my friends, I’m not entirely convinced that it has helped my career that much.

Many universities use a mix of assessment methods from final exams, to dissertations, via group projects, presentations and assessed practical work – let’s hope that those devising the EBacc see the sense in this and take a similar approach.

Gove has confirmed that a ‘sizeable proportion’ of pupils will leave school with no qualifications under the new system –so what will they do? In the olden days, these students got jobs and worked their way up the ladder, but surely Gove realises that we’re in a different world now. In my day only 9% of school/college leavers went on to Higher Education, these days, that figure is approaching 50% to meet the 21st Century labour market’s need for higher level skills. The cynical among us might surmise that the EBacc is just another ruse to bring back an elitist education system in which those that can afford private schools, private tutors and “cramming” courses will succeed, and those that can’t will fall by the wayside.

My other worry is, that should a subsequent Government decide to make an example of the qualification and discontinue it, then the EBacc and my daughter will be consigned to the “close but no cigar” category, along with the 16+ (anyone remember that?), GNVQs and the more recently deceased Diploma.