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WISERD GCSE Series – Part 3: Is tiering fair for all students?

Posted on 25 August 2017 by WISERD

Having previously looked at the different types of GCSE courses and how they are assessed, in the third and final blog of this series, Dr Rhian Barrance outlines recent research on tiering and considers how fair it is for different groups of students. Tiering has been used for GCSEs since they were introduced in 1986.
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Study, by Komsomolec, via Pixabay, CC0 Creative Commons

WISERD GCSE Series – Part 2: Should internal assessment be used for GCSEs?

Posted on 24 August 2017 by WISERD

Earlier this week we looked at the recent reforms to GCSEs across England, Northern Ireland and Wales and considered students’ views on linear and modular courses. In the second part of this series exploring students’ perspectives on the fairness of GCSEs, Dr Rhian Barrance considers whether internal assessment should be used alongside exams. The question
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Students' views on the most suitable course structure for GCSEs

WISERD GCSE Series – Part 1: Should all GCSE students be assessed in the same way?

Posted on 22 August 2017 by WISERD

In the first of a series of blogs about students’ perspectives on the fairness of GCSEs, Dr Rhian Barrance outlines the recent reforms to GCSEs across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and considers students’ views on linear and modular courses. Across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, many 16-year-olds are awaiting the release of their GCSE
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Climate change and poverty are as much of a threat as terrorism for many young people

Posted on 27 March 2017 by WISERD

It will probably come as little surprise that recent surveys have found the majority of adults in Europe think that international terrorism is the most pressing threat to the continent. Though this is valuable information about what adults think, little is known about what children and young people perceive as the greatest threats to life
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Young people and Brexit: will Brexit spark young people’s interest in devolved Welsh politics?

Posted on 7 March 2017 by WISERD

Brexit in Scotland and Wales A majority 64% of young people voted in the UK referendum on EU membership last June, but 70% of them were disappointed. Media coverage brought this disappointment home with wide coverage of the generational divide, depicting a young generation forced to live with the consequences of a decision made by
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