State schools are becoming increasingly eager to start offering
international GCSEs, also known as IGCSEs, after being given the option by
the government.
So far, 16 state secondary schools have signed up to offer the IGCSE exams
instead of traditional exams. The option to do so has been extended to
state schools long after finding favour with private schools who believe
them to be tougher than traditional GCSEs.
Previously, state schools were not able to offer the IGCSEs in core
subjects as the Labour government viewed them as inadequate for the
curriculum.
However, the new Education Secretary, Michael Gove, reversed the decision,
allowing state schools to offer the qualifications from this coming
September.
One of the main awarding bodies for the IGCSEs, Cambridge International
Examinations (CIE), said that the change in the rules has led to a rush of
interest from state schools, which accounted for 60 per cent of the schools
that signed up for the IGCSEs this summer.
Ann Puntis from the CIE said the rule change has "opened the gates" for
state schools. She added that there has also been a huge increase in
teachers from state schools signing up to teacher training events to help
them teach the new style of IGCSE qualifications.
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