Is 14 the new 16 in Education?

June 14, 2011 - PRLog -- On 7 June 2011 Cambridge Assessment, our parent organisation, hosted a debate in London about whether the age at which children in the UK take GCSEs (and International GCSEs) should be lowered to 14.  Cambridge Assessment believes that recent discussions in the UK media and elsewhere about whether the age at which children take GCSEs should be lowered to 14 avoids the real discussion about what is being tested, why, and what kind of education should follow.

Nearly 100 people attended the event, with a further 1000 watching online.  Participants explored issues such as: Should there be a national examination at 14 rather than 16? What would be the implications for what a student does next? Should this be the starting point for students to take courses leading them in different directions? And should these different directions allow students to opt for different ‘routes' in different types of institutions - academic, technical or vocational?  

University of Cambridge International Examinations is the world’s largest provider of international education programmes and qualifications for 5–19 year olds. Our qualifications are taken in over 160 countries and recognised by universities, education providers and employers across the world.

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