Brevet exam equivelent to GCSE's???

[Celine]

I agree that the GCSE exams have not been dumbed down. The amount and depth of content is enormous and challenging. It is the marking system - which "gives away" high grades to too many pupils instead of reserving top marks for the very best - which needs addressing.

I found teaching in France lacked creativity and rarely engaged the children.

The UK system would be even more superior and successful if they could get class sizes on a par with those in France.

[thepenofmyaunt]

Celine, I think you are quite right about the marking. Having just read a Year 9 coursework essay my son did on theism and the telelogical arguments of William Paley on the existence of God there is absolutely no way that the education system here is dumbed down and I've no doubt his peers in France would have been completely unable to handle an essay like this (taking into account, of course, that religion isn't taught in France). I think I'd have struggled with it myself!  Incidentally, both my children were in 30+ classes in France but are in slightly smaller ones here.