Call for a new Baccalaureate
29 September 2016
A new Baccalaureate which includes a technical subject and a creative option has been proposed by the Edge Foundation.
14-19 Education – A New Baccalaureate proposes to broaden the Government’s English Baccalaureate (EBacc) which it believes is too narrow and not appropriate for the skills needed in the 21st century.
The new Baccalaureate would include:
- English
- Maths
- Two science GCSEs – one of which could be computer science
- A creative GCSE from a list which would include art and design, music, dance and drama
- A humanities GCSE from a list which would include history, geography, religious education and foreign languages
- A design and technology GCSE or an approved technical award. Examples include the Cambridge National Certificate in Engineering and the Pearson BTEC First Award in Construction and the Built Environment.
Former Education Secretary Lord Baker, Chair of the Edge Foundation, said that whilst he backed
Lord Sainsbury’s “ideas for simplifying technical education for young people aged 16 to 19”, he has concerns about “reinforcing an artificial divide at 16 between the academic and technical routes”.
In time, Lord Baker would like to see an overarching award, combining GCSEs, A Levels and technical qualifications, which would become the new measure of success at the end of a unified 14-19 phase of education.