Reviews: Tiny Dynamite Sport p40 Virgin Full report on Smoker a last gasp Nineteen rugby Eighty- victory for Fashionp20 Four Magdalene Reading between the lines Artsp30 for some vintage outfi ts Issue No 663 Friday October 26 2007 varsity.co.uk e Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 A-levels could be scrapped in six years » Cambridge to assist in development of new diploma » Review in 2013 will decide fate of A-levels Camilla Temple Maths and ICT skills, with opportu- undermining academic excellence,” nities to apply their learning in work- he told Varsity. “Whilst a new focus News Editor related contexts.” on vocational subjects is a good thing, Fourteen different diploma quali- creating diplomas for academic sub- Cambridge University is working fi cations will be introduced over the jects is a diversion which can only with the government to design a next three years. Some subjects are weaken the exam system.” new diploma qualifi cation that will to be introduced in September 2008, He added that the Conservative be offered as a widespread alterna- including Construction and the Built Party “supports the reform of voca- tive to A-levels from September Environment, Creative and Media, tional learning to provide an alterna- 2008. If the new diploma is success- and Engineering. Other Diplomas, tive route to employment, but the ful, A-levels could be scrapped in as such as Hair and Beauty, Hospitality new exams announced this week little as six years. and Retail, will follow over the next are designed to subvert GCSEs and The university has voiced its sup- three years. A-levels. Ed Balls should be con- port for the qualifi cation and has also The diploma is a separate qualifi ca- centrating on dealing with under- become involved in its development. tion from the Pre-U, the Cambridge- achievement, not drawing up fantasy From the start of the next academic developed A-level alternative which qualifi cations.” year, 40,000 students in over 900 will be piloted by various public Balls hopes to create an educa- schools will be given the option of schools from September 2008 and tional “market” in which a variety of choosing between A-levels and the which was designed in response to qualifi cations can compete with one new diploma. complaints about the modular exami- another. He said, “If diplomas are de- Ed Balls, the government Minister nations and unlimited re-sits of the livering the mix that employers and for Schools, explained that the Diplo- A-level system. universities value, they could become mas will “combine an in depth theo- Dr Geoff Parks, Director of Under- the qualifi cation of choice for young retical and practical study of subject graduate Admissions at Cambridge people.” areas and a strong focus on English, University and member of the Ex- He admitted that GCSEs and A- pert Advisory Board to the Diploma levels were “long established and Development Partnership, said: “The valued qualifi cations” and therefore Diplomas provide the opportunity to should not be phased out as a result Douglas Murray develop new components that address of “any pre-emptive Government de- some of the defi ciencies of A-levels.” cision but instead by the demands of The ‘Michael He is involved in a group developing young people, schools and colleges.” Moore an Engineering Maths unit for the Richard Lambert, Director Gen- Engineering Diploma and says that it eral of the Confederation of British of “promises to be a better preparation Industry, who will sit on the Expert for the study of engineering at uni- Advisory Board, responded to the the versity than Maths A-level”. plans cautiously. “The proof of the A review of the A-level system will pudding is always in the eating. Di- Right’ take place in 2013 at which point a plomas must meet three key tests. decision will be made about whether First, they need to give more young they are to be continued. people the skills needed for the mod- Dr Parks explained that, while the ern world; second, they must be seen University supports both of the Pre- as a valid and worthwhile alternative p13 U and the diploma alternatives, “They to GCSEs and A-levels; and third, are two different qualifi cations. The they must attract young people who Pre-U is a two year sixth form qualifi - are currently turning their backs on cation, while the diplomas are a second- the education system.” RICHARD GARDNER Letters 8 ary school qualifi cation covering Years Concerns have been voiced over 9 through 13. It is conceivable that the short amount of time available The boy who beat the chimes Comment 10 students taking diplomas could study for implementing the qualifi cation. components drawn from the Pre-U Lambert said, “The government has Sam Dobin has become the third person in history to just as they can study A-levels.” embarked on a very ambitious plan complete the Trinity Great Court Run in the time it takes Idler 11 Michael Gove, the shadow chil- to roll out this programme in a short dren’s secretary, has reservations space of time. If it is to be successful, for the college clock to strike noon. He completed the 367 Reviews 30 about the new diploma qualifi cation. the diploma system must be properly metre course in 42.77 seconds, the fastest time on record, “Diplomas were supposed to be about promoted to students, universities outperforming two Olympic champions. The Anorak 37 improving vocational education, not and employers.” » Full story p3 Chief News Editors: Katherine Faulkner, Katy Lee and Camilla Temple Friday October 26 2007 2 NEWS [email protected] varsity.co.uk/news In Brief Student threatened with Cook off goes down a treat rape A female student was threatened » Indignant students say they never taste gourmet food in hall with rape in Market Square last Sat- urday evening at 11.30pm. She was » College chefs pull out all the stops to impress judges cornered by two men whilst walking alone. The CUSU women’s offi cer, Alex Glasner vegetarians and vegans and visi- Elly Shepherd, told Varsity that the tors were especially impressed student involved did not wish for any Sidney Sussex has won this year’s by the desserts. One dessert was further information to be revealed. intercollegiate chef competition, formed in the shape of a piano and She stressed that precautions which was held at Girton Col- another resembled a top hat. should be taken when travelling lege on Wednesday. Chefs from Food was bought specially from at night; students should travel each college were judged on their local sources and there was an un- in groups, and choose cycling over ability to create a starter, main limited budget for chefs to spend walking. The incident comes just course, vegetarian dish and des- on their entry dishes. prior to a weekend of training for sert. There was a separate class Some chefs, however, managed Rape Crisis Centre volunteers at for chefs aged under 21. to do well on an apparently small King’s College. Among the winning dishes cre- budget; minimalism seemed key Emma Inkester ated by Sidney’s team of chefs for many dishes. Nonetheless, were a melody of suffolk pork, visitors were surprised that the Darwinian celebrations lobster and cromer crab ravioli, scollop tureen and poached pear The University with pomegranate. of Cambridge Johnny Bridgeman, one of the “It’s just ridiculous. unveiled chefs from the victorious team, plans this told Varsity that he was “chuffed When have you week for to bits” about the result. “It was a a major great bit of team work,” he said. ever seen spun celebration Many of the chefs woke up be- of the life fore five o’clock in the morning to sugar baskets in the and works finish their dishes and the judges buttery?” of Charles spent the rest of the morning de- Darwin to ciding upon a winner. take place There was a special counter for RICHARD WEST in July food was “so nice to look at” in This delectable dessert bowled the judges over 2009. Darwin attended Christ’s comparison to the usual buttery College as a student between 1827 fare and responded by criticis- ed dessert for twenty fellows. a problem with the competition and 1831, and the festival will ing their colleges for spending Accusations have arisen that is that the food is not judged on mark the bicentenary of his birth comparatively little on everyday the competition is little more how it tastes. “None of the judges and the 150th anniversary of the cooking. One student commented than a farce. Claims that much of were allowed to actually taste the publication of his renowned Ori- that the food was “ridiculous,” the food was raw were supported food,” he explained. “The prob- gin of Species. and that she had never heard of when one of the dishes was found lem is that the dishes have to be Professor Sir Patrick Bateson, quail, let alone seen it on her col- to contain raw tuna. brought in very early in the morn- chair of the Darwin 2009 Com- lege menu. One of the chefs said: “I would ing, and we can’t have people eat- mittee, explained that the festival “It’s just ridiculous,” said Emma not eat any of the dishes, not even ing food that’s been left out so aims to examine Darwin’s impact Clutton-Brock, a second year stu- my own. I didn’t even cook the long because of health and safety not only on the natural and social dent from St John’s.