THE SIXTH FORM YEARS BY SUBJECT PART 2

The most baffling aspect of post 16 education was that we were at school by choice and not because the law of the land required us to be there. Yet it was compulsory for every A-Level student to do either General studies or Politics. Like the vast majority of students I was instantly put off by Politics so General studies picked itself by default.

The subject was as vague as it’s title suggested, we did topics like “leisure”, “communication” and “conflict”. As far as I was concerned it wasn’t a proper subject and seemed a total waste of time. Most people seemed to resent having to do it, I showed nothing but contempt for the subject from start to finish doing the minimum amount of work required to keep the teachers off my back.

I do remember at least one story of someone deliberately getting themselves kicked out of General studies and it was safe to say it was bottom priority for even the most enthusiastic of students. I just drifted through the two years and turned up for the final exam.

On the day I collected my results I remember being concerned only about passing my Maths and Computing A-Levels (which I did). I was more than a little surprised to have passed General studies given the serious lack of effort I made. I got a grade E the minimum pass grade the same as maths and computing.

As predicted from day one having an A-level in general studies was not worth the paper it was written on. I gained nothing in later life from having done that course. It was only years later that I realized why we had to do it. The fact that I passed with the minimum effort was a big clue. A-Levels are not meant to be easy by their own definition that’s why they are called “Advanced level”. Had I made the same lack of effort in any other subject I would have definitely failed.

General studies is the typical example of a “soft subject” which is easy to pass. So by forcing every A-Level student to do it the schools pass rates and grade statistics get a massive boost. The bottom line is that’s all the school cares about, how good they look not about peoples futures. I would have been better off working and earning money!!!!!!!!

REPORT: MARCH 1994

Matthew has studied the topic “Leisure” with Miss Geffcote and is now studying “communication” with me. He appears to be taking the course with reluctance and does not make any positive contribution to group work or discussion. His last written essay I judge to be below A-Level standard. Since Matthew is only doing two other A-Level subjects and these are in a narrow specialist area I think he should take more interest in the subject and make an effort to do well in it.  

ENGLISH G.C.S.E RETAKE - FINAL GRADE “E”

When I announced I wanted to stay on in education the first thing every teacher advised me to do when looking at my grades was to retake G.C.S.E English language as I only got a grade D. Getting a “C or above” was important I was repeatedly told.

The trouble was it had always been a subject I had struggled in right from the age of 5. The bottom line was that I didn’t like it and couldn’t be bothered at the best of times. It was only a one year course but having do tedious stuff like Shakespeare's plays all over again made it even worse. I had also made a few new friends in that class and was very easily distracted from my work. Hardly a shock when I got a worse grade than when I did it the first time.