Feast your eyes upon Varsity’s Formal Hall review All 31 colleges included The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 | varsity.co.uk | Friday November 24 2006 | Issue 648 Boris: “A-levels failing in the Darwinian struggle” »Academic dissatisfaction with the A-level »Cambridge Pre-U receives mixed response ALICE WHITWHAM & and President of the Royal Historical coursework and no chance to re-sit Society Professor Martin Daunton exams. Kevin Stannard, Director of LIZZIE MITCHELL argued, “there are too many small International Curriculum Development modules which do not allow a sense of at CIE, stated that its strength will lie Boris Johnson, Shadow Minister for long term change… or sufficient time in providing “a chance for students Higher Education, has exclusively for reflection as a result of the pres- and teachers to be re-inspired and re- told Varsity that “A-levels seem to be sure of assessment”. Another suggest- excited by learning”. failing in the Darwinian struggle”. ed that the A-level system may be to But the Pre-U is not without The Conservative MP’s bleak blame for the fact that “our current detractors. Its status as a syllabus judgement on the future of the A- first years in English didn’t have a sin- designed primarily to meet the level comes in the wake of a report gle Shakespeare play in common requirements of prospective universi- published in The Times this week among them”. ty students, the threat of a two-tier which stated that over 100 independ- Support for the Pre-U as an alterna- system of independent and state ent schools have expressed a strong tive to the A-level has predominantly schools, and the anachronistic struc- interest in the new Pre-U qualifica- come from the private school sector. ture of the syllabus have all been iden- tion. The Pre-U, currently being Headmaster of Dulwich College, tified as flaws in the new qualification. developed by Cambridge International Graham Able, criticised the present A former teacher from one of Examinations (CIE) and scheduled A-level examination for its “modulari- London’s largest comprehensive to be launched in 2008, has been ty”, “mechanical coursework” and schools, Holland Park, described the lauded as a credible alternative by “lack of open-ended questions”. He Pre-U as “precious” since it “ignores critics of the A-level. As the Shadow emphasised that the loss of teaching the needs of all but a select elite”. Minister argued, “It’s only natural time as a result of the introduction of Indeed, while 805,698 students sat that other means of testing academ- the AS-level in 2000 was a major cause A-level exams last summer, only ic merit should be used”. for concern. He believes that “the ‘one 405,369 went on to higher education. In the week leading up to the start of size fits all approach’ inevitably leads This suggests that if the explicitly uni- Cambridge admissions interviews, to unsatisfactory compromise”. Able versity-orientated Pre-U were to similar concerns about the A-level have told Varsity that in contrast the Pre-U replace the A-level nationwide, it been voiced within the University. “will give back our teaching time and would neglect the needs of half of the Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions for allow more open ended questions… students taking it. Cambridge Colleges, spoke of the “gen- the syllabuses will be a little fuller and The potentially divisive nature of eral concern about the lack of stretch are being designed by experienced the Pre-U was highlighted by the and challenge in the current A-level subject teachers in conjunction with Qualifications and Curriculum system” and “the concomitant lack of university subject admissions offi- Authority (QCA). A spokesperson differentiation at the top end”. cers”. Harrow and Eton are amongst stated “At the moment, if a state Parks’ comments reflect the wider other top independent schools to have school wanted to offer the Pre-U, that doubts of academics across the similarly declared their preference for wouldn’t attract funding from the gov- University. While Philip Ford, the Pre-U as against the current A- ernment, so they would have to find Professor of French and Neo-Latin, level qualification. alternative funding”. Not until the said that “A-level language courses The Pre-U diploma will involve the Pre-U is afforded status on the gov- have for some time been an inade- study of four subjects, at least three of ernment accredited section 96 list of quate preparation for degree courses which would be carried on to principal qualifications will it be available for in Cambridge”, Professor Rosamund subject level. It also contains a core state schools. For the purposes of McKitterick described the A-levels as element in the form of a 3-4000 word Cambridge admissions, Parks said C B “leaving too little room for independ- research report as well as a course in that “a key consideration will be B ent thinking”. Master of Trinity Hall Global Perspectives. There will be no CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Boris Johnson calls for new means of testing at sixth form level FEATURES INTERVIEWS ARTS ARTS & The quiz of Jon Ronson Top ten FEATURES the year on extremism albums of and goats 2006 »PAGE 14 »PAGE 17 »PAGE 21 2 varsity.co.uk/news | 24.11.06 Write for Varsity News: Newsdesk To get involved in Lent Term email [email protected] In Brief Expert warns against extremist applicants Police warn of »Cambridge Muslims condemn “farcical” and “impractical” proposals laptop thefts suggested that HE providers vet But Latif still expressed concern gation of extremist media is farcical”. Police are warning students to take JO TRIGG overseas students, interview all stu- over the guidelines. He told Varsity Glees’ proposals attracted even extra security precautions after dents to test their suitability for high- that he was “not happy that they con- greater criticism. Latif described his American student Stephen Neld was A leading intelligence expert has er education as well as train campus centrate on only one type of extrem- research as “anything but that of an almost burgled last Thursday when advised universities interview all security officers to undertake basic ism” and believed that they may expert… not even a university stu- thieves tried to climb a ladder and applicants to prevent students from observations and collection duties. “lead to the differential treatment of dent could get away with such a through a window on Warkworth Street. entering higher education with the These include knowing who is on Muslim students”. Furthermore, he flawed report”. He denied that Glees This is the latest in a series of burglaries intent of spreading religious hatred. campus and removing extremist lit- highlighted how FOSIS were had produced any credible evidence in colleges and comes in the wake of Professor Anthony Glees’ proposals erature and DVDs. Glees cited “his- involved in similar guidelines pro- of extremism on university campus- police statistics that reveal seven to come in the wake of the publication torical evidence suggesting some duced by Universities UK (UUK)) es, adding that his opinions “border eight attempted laptop thefts taking of new government reccomenda- twenty plus campuses have generat- over a year ago, which focused on a on the racist”. place in Cambridge daily. Katy Lee tions for preventing Islamic extrem- ed extremists”, and claimed that wider variety of religions. “I don’t see Cambridge students and lecturers ism on campus. “Just as paedophiles hang around what these new guidelines bring to were equally sceptical. CUSU Anti- Professor Glees, of Brunel outside school gates, so extremists the table that wasn’t previously racism Officer Ali Alim-Marvasti Papworth plans University, criticised Higher hang around campuses”. After his addressed by the UUK”, he argued. claimed that the suggestions are Education (HE) providers for being meeting with government ministers Cambridge University Islamic “impractical” while CU ISoc’s Ahmad threaten basic “driven by the need to earn money he believes that “the advice to HE argued that “The idea is absolutely from students and reluctant to do providers relies quite heavily on crazy… such a measure would lead to healthcare relatively simple things which might what I’ve written”. “Political cor- discrimination on the basis of race”. Plans for a £6 million specialist unit at make campuses less comfortable for The guidance from the Department Although outraged that “the general Papworth Hospital, the nation’s lead- extremists”. He told Varsity that for Education and Skills (DfES) was rectness an position seems to be that university ing hospital for heart and lung trans- “HE providers dropped their guard published last Friday, one month after students are docile idiots who need to plants, have been met with dismay by in the rush to fill places; this made a draft of the report was leaked to the excuse to avoid be protected from the rantings of reli- campaigners trying to protect basic campuses spaces in which Guardian. After the criticism gious extremists”, Arif Ahmed, services at nearby Hinchingbrooke extremist activity could be that the leaked report facing the issue” Lecturer in Philosophy, concluded Hospital. Faced with a £29.9 million conducted without let or attracted, Amar Latif, that the proposals may not be neces- deficit, Hinchingbrooke may lose key hindrance. Political cor- Media Officer at the sary. He told Varsity “Holding facilities, forcing Huntingdon resi- rectness was used as an Federation of Student extreme religious views is a good dents to travel to Addenbrooke’s. Its excuse to avoid facing Islamic Societies indicator for stupidity or at any rate administrators believe the new unit is the issue”.