Engineering exams face axe

Examination regulator Ofqual has set out proposals to remove engineering exams from the national curriculum by 2017, pending public consultation.

If the proposals go through, students will no longer be able to sit GCSEs or A Levels in engineering or manufacturing, as more than 40 qualifications face being discontinued.

Engineering is so important that young people need be exposed to the subject

IMechE head of education Peter Finegold

Ofqual chief regulator Glenys Stacey said: “We think it important that subject content is reviewed and updated as qualifications change, and we set out proposals for how we think that is best done for the remaining subjects.

“At the same time, there are subjects which we think would not meet the principles we have put forward, and which we propose should be discontinued.”

Yesterday’s announcement came as unwelcome news to many in industry, particularly as the engineering sectors are already plagued by a shortage of skilled staff.

Head of education at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Peter Finegold said: “Engineering is already largely invisible in our schools and we need to be doing everything we can to attract young people into the profession.

“Engineering is so important that young people need be exposed to the subject, the nature of the discipline and what its name means. The UK is currently facing an alarming skills gap and we are not producing anywhere near the number of engineers that we need to.”

“Qualifications at all stages must be rigorous and respected and if these engineering GCSEs were falling short, then we would welcome the decision to discontinue them and urge that students are encouraged to take valued STEM subjects en route to becoming engineers,” he added.

If successful, the proposals would see engineering and manufacturing exams replaced with design and technology qualifications in systems and control technology and product design, respectively.