The EBacc Debate By Freya Walsh-Wells 8D P3
The EBacc was introduced by the government in 2010. A student who takes English, Maths, two Sciences (currently defined as Biology, Chemistry or Physics and Computing), a language (ancient or modern) and a humanity (currently defined as ancient history, history or geography) has taken the group of qualifications known as the English Baccalaureate, as long as he / she achieves GCSE grades B- to A* in all of these subjects. Under current government policy, the EBacc will be compulsory for all students taking their GCSEs in 2020. {Wycombe high School Options Booklet 2017-20} Some people believe that the EBacc creates sufficient skills to provide a ‘fall-back’ career if the participants do not achieve their chosen vocation. Others argue that it excludes the arts as a profession or a reserve option and pushes pupils to adopt STEM (Science, Technology, English and Mathematics) orientated objectives for their futures. Furthermore, the national curriculum required STEAM (Science, Technology, English, Art and Mathematics) which has been dropped in recent years and the arts are deemed less important whereas scientists have discovered that the arts access / use more of our brains hence increasing our intelligence. Additionally, if an individual wanted a performing arts career with a textiles career as backup, such as Victoria Beckham, this would not be achievable as the EBacc means you can only choose three courses, one of which has to be discontinued. A solution would be to drop a science, as only two are needed for the EBacc and schools study all three, to enable us to select a wanted / needed topic. Another resolution would be to make the EBacc optional again which would allow more space for decision. In conclusion, I believe that major actions need to be taken on this matter and although schools may state that the EBacc will make a candidate more appealing to universities, these are academic universities and not performing arts universities.
{Diagram of the categorisation of actions in the brain}