The Exam House — August 14, 2020

Katharine Birbalsingh vs Claire Kelly Exam debate

Something remarkable happened this morning.

The now permanently left wing BBC radio 4 Today programme produced a remarkably balanced debate this morning. Katharine Birbalsingh vs Claire Kelly. On the value of the current A level exams results.

We have two professional teachers on main stream media who have radically different views. Hallelujah!

In the red corner was Claire Kelly. Who does not believes in the process of exams in any real way of assessment at the end of years learning. She refuses to accept that teachers opinions can have bias.

In the blue corner we have Katharine Birbalsingh who believes that exams at the end of a course rather than continua assessment is the best for both pupils and examiners.

Note: Katherine believes the A level results mess that Ofqual produced was pretty much the best the Government could have done. That along with Key stage 2 results, teacher predictions, along with mocks. The Government couldn’t have done anything else.

This debate between Katharine Birbalsingh vs Claire Kelly comes down to what one believe in. Do you believe in the two years of learning with a final set of exams. Rather than being assessed throughout the two years?

Katharine believes end of course exams help with consistency, perception, insightfulness about the candidates. They do not suffer bias. ‘Access Arrangements considered. ‘

The Speed and fluency of expressing ideas is basically what life is much about.

We agree with Katharine. We believe that there should be fewer, better managed exams. Taken when the candidate feels ready. Rather than what Claire Kelly believes in. Claire believes in continual assessment - We believe continual assessment is toxic.

I hope you enjoy the debate.