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actor Hugh Grant has warned schools “I will dump whatever remains of books and pens are left.” Should GCSE exams be moved online?,
Notting Hill Starr warned
His comments follow ofqual A proposal to take some GCSE and A-level exams digitally from the end of the decade.
Grant wrote: “It would be a disaster if GCSEs moved online. In the name of ‘exam preparation’ schools would throw away the remains of books and pens and expose our poor children to internet addiction at a huge cost to their education, mental health and safety.”
In a consultation published last week, Ofqual sought views on allowing each of the four exam boards to put forward two new specifications with some components assessed digitally.
Ofqual specifies that on-screen examinations can be online or offline, and will not require an internet connection.
Exam boards will no longer be able to deliver on-screen exams in subjects taken by more than 100,000 pupils a year, including many core GCSE subjects as well as A-level maths.
Grant, a father of five, has previously supported the campaign against screens in schools, saying “it’s the last thing” children need.
An Ofqual spokesperson said: “Everyone is welcome to take part in our consultation on on-screen assessment which can be found on our website.
“Any introduction of on-screen examinations must be carefully managed to protect the interests of all students, and these proposals set out a controlled approach with strict safeguards.”