Leading change with assessment
Sooner or later the irrelevance and stifling influence of GCSE assessment at 16 will lead to their demise. But reform comes with risks, and consensus is not easy to achieve. There are ideological differences about the content of the curriculum, both within the teaching profession and amongst the much wider population of parents. Even so, if we can establish consensus about getting assessment right, then the competing priorities of the overloaded curriculum (which will always struggle to meet everything that is demanded of it) become much less problematic. Knowledge and skills gaps will always exist, but at least we will have set children up with stronger foundations to adapt, to prioritise and to thrive through lifelong learning.
Right now, younger generations are understandably losing focus and confidence in finding pathways to a happy and fulfilled life. If our education system can help them to take pride in their skills, and to discover sustainable career nutrients that align with their strengths and personalities, there is hope.