How have you found the first year of the new GCSE? What do you like about A-Level? What do your students love about Drama? Is there anything that you would change about the specifications?
The new GCSE is fairly similar to the old one so not massive problems with the exception of the written coursework. It takes up so much time that should be used for practical work. Also as usual with edexcel the band 1 exemplars arrived too late to actual help with the planning of the coursework.
Obviously we will have to wait until next week, but better advice for the written element is needed.
Thanks for your feedback goldiloz2000.
Does anyone else find that the written work takes up more time than expected?
Now that the senior examining team have seen work from all levels for the new spec we will be able to provide some more example material which should be ready for the Autumn term.
Sarah
Hi
This year, my group really struggled with the written element - I had a relatively weak cohort and this showed in the results. In the past, students could "tweak" their work and get extensive feedback which helped them immensely. This is also something I struggle with, particularly when I see a student going way off track....what am I supposed to do with them when they do that?
More examples of what band 1 work looks like would be extremely useful.
I have enjoyed teaching this course but, it feels rushed at times especially when trying to complete the Controlled Assessments.....
Nicky
I have found this year totally disheartening! I have taught Drama with edexcel for the past 9 years and have loved it. This year we have had the worse GCSE results in our history - yet had some of the best candidates. In the past the students would have been credited with the work they have achieved, but I feel this year they have been penalised for the sake of trying to toughen up results. We had no A's or A*s, and if I am honest I do not understand why. I am considering a move to another board!
The new GCSE is seriously disheartening. Good points-Results Plus, Strict word counts for the written element. Improvements- One moderator for Unit 1 and Unit 2.The final marks for Unit 2 The Response to Live Theatre and the written controlled assessment should be seperately reported as they are seperated assessed and recorded.. Lack of clear top band (full mark) written examples has been an ongoing problem with Edexcel since I've been with them since1997!
I find the AS Unit 1 has more structure then the GCSE Unit 1 and 2. I like the improved practical approach of the AS Unit 1 and the Exploration notes word count has seriously eased my marking workload. With Unit 3 allowing centres to choose whether to devise or adapt a text has provided a greater choice for my candidates. Again the Unit 4 could be improved with clear top band (Full Marks!) exemplar not examples! My students love the practical exploration, performances, evaluations and relevance of our chosen themes and texts to their lives.
I too have found the written aspect tricky to manage this year. Our results were very disappointing and i have also been looking at other boards as i feel that some of the moderating was not as consistent as it should have been. Our unit 1 was marked down and our unit 2 marking was excellent according to the moderator. We have a very strict moderation process in the department so wonder how this has happened.
I feel very dissappointed by Edexcel's AS course this year - I teach abroad and have spoken to 4 other schools who were visited in the same week by the same examiner for the Unit 2 practical exam. We all feel that the results did not in anyway reflect our students' work - with some achieving up to 2 grades lower than they had been predicted. We have all been teaching drama for a number of years and feel that we have a very good understanding of the required standard.
Students are opting not to take the A2 course due to their practical results and this drop in take up is a serious problem in the small schools we have here.
I contacted the drama team and received a very non-comittal reply that did not seem to address the points raised.
Nicky - we are getting some examples of band 1 written work and they will be on the website this term. The additional rules about 'tweaking' are from Ofsted and impact all subjects that used to have coursework.
ghammet and tgray- I am sorry to hear you have been disheartened by this years GCSE results. The numbers of students achieving each grade hasn't changed so the standard has remained the same. Have you signed up for our free online training events? The senior team will be talking through the examiner and moderator reports and there is a Q&A session which might help you to understand your results a little more.
michael.lord - thank you for your feedback and suggested improvements. We are looking into the possibility of using the same moderator for unit 1 and 2 and we are sourcing some top band examples for GCSE. We are also looking into changing the paperwork based on feedback this year.
As for A-Level your feedback is encoraging, thanks. We will be finding some more example work for A Level too and will hopefully be able to show you some top band answers.
pike-anthony
I am sorry that you are disappointed by AS this year and I understand that A2 drop off is a problem. Have you read the examiners reports on the website?
One option you could look into is organising some customised training for you and the schools in your area/country which may help you understand your results further email customisedevents@edexcel.com for some more information
I have been very disappointed by both the GCSE and A Level from Edexcel. I agree with all the complaints about the GCSE coursework, it takes up far too much time, the students regularly asked 'when are we goijng to do some proper drama again' and, despite the exemplar material, some of best students did poorly because the guidance is too vague. The Unit 3 marks were erratic with some of my students mismarked by 2 full grades - despite what the Edexcel re-marks would have us believe. AS wasn't much better. Again, the written work is onorous and the guidance vague; more worryingly the marking on the Practical work is extraordinary. I have taught Edexcel for both GCSE and A Level for 10 years, my coleague and I have 40 years experience between us, and for the last 2 years we were both moderated in delivering the AQA specification. I moved exam boards because I liked the Edexcel courses far more and because I felt confident in delivering them. Now I seem unable to assess my students to the high (unachievable?) standards that Edexcel demand. Edexcel have ignored two letters of complaint. I too am regretting my decision to change exam boards, my new colleague cannot understand what I felt was so good about the courses and without any proper explanation as to why my students were assessed so harshly I feel I have little choce but to find another board.
And please don't tell me to try your training - I've done numerous training course, as has my colleague. We follow the guidance, we use the exemplar material and we stay abreast of all advice and changes. We still find little logic in the marking of your practical examiners. Something, by the way, I have been trying to do for the last 10 years without any job - but if this year is anything to go by, you certainly need some fresh eyes out there!
I agree with everything being discussed here! The written element of the course (especially not being able to be guided) is soul destroying for some students who find drama such a welcome distraction from other heavily written based subjects when they are weak in those areas. I also find the examplar material not very useful as there is no clear guidance as to what constitutes outstanding to excellent to good etc!!!!
Dear Kerry Greenwood
I am sorry to hear that you have been disapointed with your results. I would like to discuss this further with you. You can email me on DramaTeam@edexcelexperts.co.uk and perhaps we can find a time for me to come and visit your school and talk to you and your colleague