GCSE changes must not affect disadvantaged pupils, says Bishop of Oxford;
Joel Edwards to challenge Labour Party on poverty; Press review –
GCSE changes must not affect disadvantaged pupils, says Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, has written to the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, about how the marking of GCSE English this summer has caused “great distress to some of our most vulnerable pupils”. He has also asked for reassurances that proposed changes to GCSEs generally will enable students from poorer backgrounds to continue to flourish.
In a letter which covered a range of subjects Bishop John, chair of the Church of England’s Board of Education, said: “I also need to reflect the great distress to some of our most vulnerable pupils caused by the debacle over GCSE English grades this year. This is a considerable affront to natural justice and efforts to raise the aspirations of pupils from less favoured backgrounds are not made any easier. I would very much like to hear how the changes you propose to GCSE examinations will enable students from the same demographic to achieve and move on to the next stage of their education.”
The Revd Jan Ainsworth, the Church of England’s chief education officer, said: “We recognise that grade boundaries are adjusted during the process but the shift in the English C/D boundary was exceptional. It has disproportionately affected those children who have had to overcome greater difficulties in reaching the top grades. We are amazed at the loss of talent that has been the result.”
Philip Mantell, Director of Education for Exeter Diocese, said pupils in church schools across the diocese have suffered hugely through “the marking fiasco”. He says pupils from two Church of England schools serving deprived communities have been particularly affected.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gcse.changes.have.caused.distress.says.bishop/30671.htm
Joel Edwards to challenge Labour Party on poverty
A special church service with a focus on poverty will be taking place at the start of the Labour Party’s annual conference.
Joel Edwards, leader of the Micah Challenge anti-poverty movement, will challenge
Labour MPs and conference delegates to commit to ending poverty.
The Christian movement is mobilising the church worldwide to hold governments accountable to the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015.
Edwards will tell the Labour Conference delegates about The Jesus Agenda, which examines Jesus’ mission statement and calls upon Christians to become advocates of the poor and vulnerable.
The service takes place at St Ann’s church, Manchester, on 30 September and is being organised by the Christian Socialist Movement.
It is a traditional and well-attended gathering point for Christians from all around the country to be a prophetic voice and pray for the Labour Party.
The service will be followed at 12pm by CSM’s conference reception, which this year is in conjunction with St Ann’s Real Ale Festival.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/joel.edwards.to.challenge.labour.party.on.poverty/30669.htm
Press review –
Independent – Comment piece by Culture Secretary Maria Millar on gay marriage, with accompanying news report: “Maria Miller says she believes gay marriage must be legalised to preserve Britain’s ‘proud history of freedom and fairness’.” On p16, www.independentvoices.com is said to be “launching a manifesto demanding that civil marriages should be extended to homosexual couples”.
Evening Standard – Report that “bosses from firms including Tesco and Vodafone were joining the Archbishop of Westminster… to discuss ways to put moral principles at the heart of business behaviour”.