THOUSANDS of teenagers across Notts are currently coming to the end of a gruelling exam period.
They have been sitting their final GCSE exams in subjects ranging from English and maths to Spanish and physics, after completing modular exams in most subjects and handing in coursework in the form of essays, projects and investigations.
But this system is set to change by as early as 2015 if Education Secretary Michael Gove has his way with his proposed reforms.
Mr Gove wants to scrap the modular exams which students sit at set periods throughout Years 10 and 11 and replace them with one big exam in each subject at the end of Year 11. And coursework will be scrapped too.
Students at The West Bridgford School – which achieved an 'outstanding' report when inspected by Ofsted last year – don't like the sound of the plans.
Manni Gill, who is 15 and coming to the end of Year 10, halfway through her GCSE studies, said: "I think the younger years, the students say in Years 7 and 8 now, are going to have a much harder time than my year group. And I think we are having a harder time than year groups older than us.
"The modular exams and coursework are a friendlier approach in my opinion. Controlled assessments through the year are helpful because you can absorb the knowledge instead of just cramming it into your head for one exam."
Mr Gove is also proposing a stricter approach to grammar, spelling and punctuation in the National Curriculum – something which 15-year-old Arran Singh said he thought a bit unnecessary.
"We already know our correct grammar and spelling when we come to secondary school so I don't think everyone should be made to focus on it again.
"Also, exams are hard enough as they are at the moment and, for people who are easily distracted, one big exam at the end of the year is not going to be a good thing."
Head teacher at The West Bridgford School, Rob McDonough, echoed the views of his students.
He said he thought the aim of seeking excellence for students in their teaching and learning was a commendable aspiration on behalf of Mr Gove but he didn't agree with the idea of removing coursework and modular exams.
"The reforms seem to me as if they are taking the curriculum back to the sort of exam system that was in place when I was at school," he said.
"Modules really do benefit many students because it gives them the time to process what they have learned.
"Mr Gove is also proposing to make the exams harder, which is a decision based on the fact that more and more students are hitting the higher grades – so people assume they are getting easier. But that could well just be a reflection of very high standards of teaching."
He added that the new system could deepen the divide in educational success between advantaged and disadvantaged demographics.
"Some students who are not as academically minded may well struggle with the pressure on them from one big exam. If they don't have the space or time to revise then it could result in schools which are struggling to meet standards slipping even further down the league tables."
Deputy head and curriculum manager at the school, Tim Peacock, added: "It is too early to say exactly how the difference between Mr Gove's new curriculum and the existing one, in terms of content, will manifest itself.
"Education is changing faster than it ever has before. We will assure that no matter what changes come in our students get as much choice as possible with their curriculum and we will look more carefully at what we can offer students.
"We are in the middle of a huge change process at the moment and, as with many education reforms such as the baccalaureate which have been shelved over recent months, it is not easy to predict what the exam system will look like in the future."