A-level reforms were rushed

A-level reforms were rushed

Ministers rushed through changes to the sixth-form curriculum, a report by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority chief executive has concluded. Professor David Hargreaves said, in his final report on the A and AS-level reforms, that more time should in future be allocated for major changes to courses. He added, however, that Curriculum 2000 was now settling down. Only minor changes were needed before a further review in two years' time. Professor Hargreaves commented:

Some components of Curriculum 2000 were piloted, but there was no piloting of the Curriculum 2000 package as a whole. The capacity of schools and colleges to implement the changes successfully was not properly tested.

Head teachers complained that teenagers were experiencing assessment overload and extracurricular activities were suffering as a result.