UK News 19-08-2004 A-Level Record Smashed Again who: Teachers` union boss David Hart what: Says he hopes improved results by boys signals the end of "lad culture" in schools where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: Record-breaking A-level results released today "have provoked a fresh row about the credibility of the `gold standard` exam," The Guardian reports this morning, "with head teachers declaring the 96% pass rate meant the lower grades of D and E had lost their value." David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, admitted that "now we are reaching the stage where virtually every entry gets an A-level grade, I am not sure what attention higher education and employers will pay in the future to the bottom end of the spectrum." But Chris Keates, Acting General Secretary of the NASUWT, mounts a fierce defence of the A-Level in The Mirror, accusing detractors of "not letting facts get in the way of a good criticism." "Year on year the results provide a tangible demonstration of improving standards due to the efforts made by pupils and the dedication and commitment of teachers," he insists. "The improvements have happened because there have been a series of clear and focused national strategies that are geared towards pupils being given more individual attention." It certainly seems to be working on boys: The Sun celebrates the news that boys are closing the gap on the girls in terms of A-Level success "after years of lagging behind their counterparts." Mr Hart is pleased with what he hopes is the end of the "laddish culture" in schools. "I think the message is beginning to get through that it is not clever to be lazy," he tells The Independent. "If you don`t get decent GCSEs, you`re not going to get decent A-levels or get to university or get a job." [... more]

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