Is 14 the new 16?

We hosted an event to debate whether the age at which children take GCSEs should be lowered to 14 as well as the pros and cons of a routed system.  

Presenters included: Tim Oates, Group Director – Assessment Research & Development, Cambridge Assessment; Professor Geoff Hayward, University of Leeds; Professor Ken Spours, Head of Continuing and Professional Education, Institute of Education, University of London.  Panellists included: Dr Hilary Steedman, Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), London School of Economics and Political Science; Dr Matt Grist, Senior Researcher, Demos; and Christopher Morecroft, President, Association of Colleges. Special guest Graham Stuart MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, also shared his views with the audience.

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  • Now playing: Opening remarks 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (08 Jun 2011, 6:48)

    Debate about whether the age at which children take GCSEs should be lowered to 14. Participants also discussed the pros and cons of a 'routed system'.

    

    Opening remarks 'Is 14 the new 16?...

    Opening remarks by Cambridge Assessment's Bene't Steinberg.

  • Now playing: Opening remarks 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (07 Jun 2011, 5:22)

    Download this podcast (mp3) 2.6MB

    Debate about whether the age at which children take GCSEs should be lowered to 14. Participants also discussed the pros and cons of a 'routed system'.

    

    Opening remarks 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    Opening remarks by Cambridge Assessment's Bene't Steinberg.

  • Now playing: Tim Oates at event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (08 Jun 2011, 14:08)

    Tim Oates speaks at our debate on 'Is 14 the new 16?' and says let's not base a system for 14-16 education on 'myths and misunderstandings'.

    

    Tim Oates at event 'Is 14 the new 1...

    Tim Oates says let's not base a system for 14-16 education on 'myths and misunder...

  • Now playing: Tim Oates at event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (07 Jun 2011, 13:57)

    Download this podcast (mp3) 6.5MB

    Tim Oates speaks at our debate on 'Is 14 the new 16?' and says let's not base a system for 14-16 education on 'myths and misunderstandings'.

    

    Tim Oates at event 'Is 14 the new 1...

    Tim Oates says let's not base a system for 14-16 education on 'myths and misunder...

  • Now playing: Professor Geoff Hayward and Professor Ken Spours

    (08 Jun 2011, 21:37)

    Professor Geoff Hayward (University of Leeds) and Professor Ken Spours (Institute of Education, University of London) debate the pros and cons of a 'routed system' at a debate on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Professor Geoff Hayward and Profess...

    Professor Geoff Hayward (University of Leeds) and Professor Ken Spours (Institute ...

  • Now playing: Professor Geoff Hayward and Professor Ken Spours

    (07 Jun 2011, 19:44)

    Download this podcast (mp3) 9.1MB

    Professor Geoff Hayward (University of Leeds) and Professor Ken Spours (Institute of Education, University of London) debate the pros and cons of a 'routed system' at a debate on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Professor Geoff Hayward and Profess...

    Professor Geoff Hayward (University of Leeds) and Professor Ken Spours (Institute ...

  • Now playing: Audience debate following Prof Hayward and Spours' presentations

    (08 Jun 2011, 15:36)

    Audience debate following Prof Hayward and Spours' presentations at the event on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Audience debate following Prof Hayw...

    Audience debate following Prof Hayward and Spours' presentations.

  • Now playing: Audience debate following Prof Hayward and Spours' presentations

    (07 Jun 2011, 15:13)

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    Audience debate following Prof Hayward and Spours' presentations

    

    Audience debate following Prof Hayw...

    Audience debate following Prof Hayward and Spours' presentations.

  • Now playing: Interactive voting session

    (08 Jun 2011, 08:52)

    Online viewers join the audience at the British Library in an interactive voting session at the 'Is 14 the new 16?' event.

    

    Interactive voting session

    Online viewers join the audience in an interactive voting session. Is 14 the new 16?

  • Now playing: Interactive voting session

    (07 Jun 2011, 7:22)

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    Online viewers join the audience at the British Library in an interactive voting session at the 'Is 14 the new 16?' event.

    

    Interactive voting session

    Online viewers join the audience in an interactive voting session. Is 14 the new 16?'

  • Now playing: Panel Debate from event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (08 Jun 2011, 17:35)

    Panellists: Dr Hilary Steedman, Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), London School of Economics and Political Science; Dr Matt Grist, Senior Researcher, Demos; and Christopher Morecroft, President, Association of Colleges.

    

    Panel Debate from event 'Is 14 the ...

    Dr Hilary Steedman (CEP, LSE), Dr Matt Grist (Demos) and Christopher Morecroft (AoC)

  • Now playing: Panel Debate from event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (07 Jun 2011, 28:12)

    Download this podcast (mp3) 13MB

    Panellists: Dr Hilary Steedman, Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), London School of Economics and Political Science; Dr Matt Grist, Senior Researcher, Demos; and Christopher Morecroft, President, Association of Colleges.

    

    Panel Debate from event 'Is 14 the ...

    Dr Hilary Steedman (CEP, LSE); Dr Matt Grist (Demos) and Christopher Morecroft (AoC)

  • Now playing: Audience discussion with panel at our event on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (08 Jun 2011, 10:041)

    Audience discussion with panel at an event on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Audience discussion with panel at o...

    Audience discussion with panel.

  • Now playing: Audience discussion with panel at our event on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (07 Jun 2011, 9:08)

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    Audience discussion with panel at our event on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Audience discussion with panel at o...

    Audience discussion with panel at our event on 'Is 14 the new 16?'

  • Now playing: Graham Stuart MP

    (08 Jun 2011, 16:14)

    Graham Stuart MP addresses delegates at an event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Graham Stuart MP

    Graham Stuart MP addresses delegates at our event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

  • Now playing: Graham Stuart MP

    (07 Jun 2011, 16:46)

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    Graham Stuart MP (Chair, Education Select Committee) speaking at 'Is 14 the new 16?' event.

    

    Graham Stuart MP

    Graham Stuart MP (Chair, Education Select Committee) at 'Is 14 the new 16?' event.

  • Now playing: Audience discussion with Graham Stuart MP

    (08 Jun 2011, 19:12)

    Audience discussion session with Graham Stuart MP at event 'Is 14 the new 16?' 

    

    Audience discussion with Graham Stu...

    Audience discussion session with Graham Stuart MP.

  • Now playing: Audience discussion with Graham Stuart MP at event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (07 Jun 2011, 25:09)

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    Question and answer session with Graham Stuart MP at event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Audience discussion with Graham Stu...

    Question and answer session with Graham Stuart MP at event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

  • Now playing: Closing remarks from event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (08 Jun 2011, 03:46)

    Closing Remarks by Chair (Bene't Steinberg at Cambridge Assessment) at event 'Is 14 the new 16?' 

    

    Closing remarks from event 'Is 14 t...

    Closing Remarks by Chair (Bene't Steinberg at Cambridge Assessment).

  • Now playing: Closing remarks from event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    (07 Jun 2011, 3:47)

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    Closing Remarks by Chair (Bene't Steinberg at Cambridge Assessment) at event 'Is 14 the new 16?'

    

    Closing remarks from event 'Is 14 t...

    Closing Remarks by Chair (Bene't Steinberg at Cambridge Assessment).

• Is 14 the new 16? Summary report (PDF, 674KB)
• TRANSLATION TO ENGLISH Paper by Roger-Francois Gauthier on Education systems urged to restructure (PDF, 28KB)
• Tim Oates presentation Is 14 the new 16? 7 June 2011 (PDF, 45KB)
• FRENCH VERSION Roger-Francois Gauthier paper Education systems urged to restructure (PDF, 30KB)