Chamber Chief’s Views On A Levels

ON the day that hundreds of Thame students received their A Level examination results, the Chair of Thame?s Chamber of Commerce says he does not agree with the criticism that A Levels are becoming easier to pass.
Responding to the views of many Education, Industry and Business Pundits who say that that there has been a ?dumbing down? of A levels, Keith Slater told ThameNews.Net: ?I do not necessarily agree with the view that A levels are becoming easier. When I looked at what my own children were doing at A level, I struggled to be able to do some of what they were being asked to do, and when I compared it with what I did, particularly in maths, they studied things that I didn?t do until I went to university.?
Keith, who is also a Director of Business Link, added: ?I am very encouraged by the calibre of people who are coming out with A levels.
?Academically we are producing some very, very, good people. But perhaps what we need to look at is how we actually apply their skills and get them coming out with the right attitudes and skills in other directions, to produce more rounded people.
?My concerns are more for those who have more vocational talents who come out of school with no qualifications and who need encouraging.
? I do understand though, some of the concerns of the universities about knowing who are the very best candidates so perhaps the grading system needs looking at.?

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