Assessments testing schools to the limit

As the autumn term gets under way, Wolverhampton Grammar School's new headteacher has had his say on the big education issues of the year.

Vincent Darby, who moved to the Compton Road school from Birmingham's King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, speaks to the Express & Star about the Sats shambles, GCSEs and A-levels and the private-versus-state debate.

Last month, thousands of students across Wolverhampton picked up record-breaking exam results, sparking calls that GCSEs and A-levels are getting easier.

Mr Darby, aged 53, says: "There will always be people who want to do others down. GCSEs and A-levels became newsworthy after the introduction of league tables, they now invite comment.

"There are people out there that hanker after the halcyon days when people sat three-hour exams and they thought only the really, really clever people passed.

"But the fact is A-levels are not easier than they used to be. The structure has changed, youngsters can resit modules and the teachers are expertly prepared - just because the results are getting better doesn't mean the exams are getting easier.

"With GCSEs, I think there has been some watering down. When it comes to coursework, there's always the danger that it could have been downloaded from the internet or mum and dad have had a helping hand.

"I think we need to make sure qualifications are useful and relevant to youngsters. For some, the academic route is the right way to go, but for others it's not, that's why the new Diploma is promising. I think in this country people have a problem with vocational qualifications but over on the continent they mean something - that's the way it should be."

In July, the Express & Star reported on the Sats meltdown, which saw papers go missing and marked incorrectly after American firm ETS took over.

"I just felt incredibly sad for the schools and youngsters involved," Mr Darby says.

"I thought it just went to show what a massive industry we have created in this country in regard to testing.

"In my view, testing has to serve a purpose and push youngsters forward. I'm not sure that Sats do that. In fact the tests, especially at Key Stage 2, put schools under enormous, unnecessary pressure.

"Headteachers and parents seem to spend the whole year preparing for these tests and I don't think they are worth the battle.

"Ok, parents want to know how well their child is doing but schools publish reports and hold parent evenings. I think Sats skew what schools are really trying to do. I find them highly restrictive and expensive."

Mr Darby, who lives in Worcestershire, was at King Edward VI Camp Hill for six years. Prior to that he was at King Edward VI Aston School for Boys for 24 years, 12 as deputy head.

He says he is delighted to be working at such a prestigious school but had plans to forge even stronger links with the wider community.

"The name Wolverhampton Grammar School means a great deal to the people of this city," he says. "I think people know we offer an all-round education - it's not just the academic side of things.

"But I'm already in talks with other local teachers about members of our sixth form going out into the city's primary schools.

"I think it would be beneficial to both parties and I'm keen to build on our links in the city and between the private and state sectors."