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Bristol Grammar becomes an IB World School
Bristol Grammar School has announced it is now an IB World School. It will begin offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma to sixth formers from September, making it the only co-educational school in Bristol to offer both ‘A’ levels and the IB.
Ben Schober, the Assistant Head overseeing the implementation of the IB, said: “BGS is delighted to be recognised as an IB World School and to be joining them as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of their programmes.
“While some students will be suited to the focus of ‘A’ level and Pre-U, others will flourish continuing a wider range of subjects. The addition of the IB to our curriculum allows us to offer a choice of pathways – the IB Diploma, and the ‘A’ level and Pre-U route – both of which develop advanced learning skills and styles, independence, and engagement with the wider community. Both pathways will also fully prepare students for higher education and future careers and continue Bristol Grammar School’s proud tradition of sending students to leading universities in the UK and abroad.”
Read more: https://ie-today.co.uk/Article/bristol-grammar-becomes-an-ib-world-school
Exam malpractice up because pupils 'can't bear to be separated' from their mobiles
Senior Ofqual official says students carry phones into exam halls because they worry about the 'safety and security' of their devices
An increasing number of young people are being penalised for exam malpractice because they "cannot bear to be separated" from their mobile phones, a senior Ofqual official has said.
Julie Swan, executive director of general qualifications at the qualifications regulator, said that many students were taking their mobiles into exam halls not because they wanted to cheat, but because they could not countenance being separated from their phone or they worried about its "safety and security".
According to figures published by Ofqual in January, the number of penalties issued to students for malpractice in GCSEs and A levels increased by a quarter last year – from 2,180 in 2016 to 2,715 in 2017.
The increase was driven by a rise in cases where unauthorised materials were brought into the exam room, which was the most common category of malpractice in 2017. In most cases, the material in question was a mobile phone or other electronic communications device. Bringing phones into the exam hall accounted for 39 per cent of all student penalties.