Thinking Schools expert says exams are now ‘master of the curriculum’

As students all over the country await their GCSE results, Thinking Schools expert says ‘high-stakes’ testing is now ‘master of the curriculum’. Top education academic, teacher and Thinking Schools expert says exams are now ‘master of the curriculum’ instead of its servant.

‘Thinking schools are the polar opposite of this and view the journey of lifelong learning as paramount in education with high student outcomes as an authentic by product of high-quality teaching and learning with thinking at its core.’

Dr Dave Walters is deputy head of a secondary school in the West of England, Honorary University Fellow at the University of Exeter and Research Director at Thinking Matters.

‘High-stakes testing, such as GCSEs, places assessment firmly in the role of master of the curriculum rather than the servant it was designed to be. The impact is a system akin to an exam machine where outcomes replace the journey of lifelong learning such that the journey for many is so traumatic that it derails them permanently.

‘This is a real issue for the education system as pupils and teachers are exhibiting levels of mental health issues never before imagined.

‘Thinking schools are positioned at the polar opposite of this and view the journey of lifelong learning as paramount in education with high student outcomes as an authentic by product of high quality teaching and learning with thinking at its core.’