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Should GCSEs be changed to create a more inclusive education?

The flawed exam algorithm may have established a flaw in the goal of an inclusive education.

With pupils automatically disadvantaged based on where they are from, the system could be the strongest indicator yet that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds have to work harder to achieve in the education system. 

Experts have wade in on the debate about whether there need to be a revamp, including of the GCSE system, in order to make learning more inclusive.

What is inclusive education?

Inclusive education (also known as inclusion) is education inclusive for everyone.

The Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE) states:

Inclusion means enabling all students students to participate fully in the life and work of mainstream settings, whatever their needs.

Inclusion may also be seen as a continuing process of breaking down barriers to learning and participation for all children and young people. Segregation on the other hand, is a recurring tendency to exclude difference.

Do teachers believe education is inclusive?

“The heart of what schools do, what teachers do, should not be simply determined by children and young people’s attainment against narrowly defined criteria of knowledge, but about what they could do as citizens of the future. That is more likely to to depend on their understanding and respect for each other, and their ability to collaborate than compete,” says Professor Simon Gibbs of Newcastle University.

Today’s attention on exam results reiterates a debate founded on competition and individual ranking; with winners and losers, it is an exclusionary debate. What is needed more than ever is a curriculum that enables young people to learn about difference, diversity and civilised society. The main transformation should therefore have an aim of promoting inclusion. 

How EDClass aims to provide inclusive education for all

EDClass believe in fully inclusive learning for all.

Our range of lessons are suitable for all students and has a proven record of improving engagement and attainment. We provide a range of learning programmes suitable for a student’s individual needs. Our comprehensive lesson designs means students can understand hard to teach topics and receive tailored learning support.

11,000 lessons are available.

Our online system is ideal for students that are in isolation, excluded, have mental health issues, long-term illness or vulnerabilities. It ensure even if mainstream classroom learning may not be suitable for these pupils, their education can continue.

The system is fully safeguarded with a range of mechanisms in place: eyes-on learning, chat functions, alert mechanisms, frequent questionnaires to pupils, access to charities and alert mechanisms to notify our staff to reach out to your school.

Free demonstratons of our system are available here.

For more information, call 01909 568 338.