Emphasis on challenging science GCSEs will be good for UK business

By August 23, 2012 Press Releases

A
step-change in the way information and communications technology (ICT) is
taught in schools will produce a workforce that can better service the needs of
businesses, according to TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games
industry.

 

Following
the first ever fall in the number of GCSEs being awarded top grades this week,
TIGA supports the Department of Education’s intention to toughen up the exams
and place a greater emphasis on raising standards of achievement – particularly
in the sciences, maths and English.

 

According to TIGA,
one of the major changes should be to provide young people with more
opportunities to develop new ICT skills for emerging digital markets. For
example, schools should not only teach children how to use apps but also focus
on how they can create their own. TIGA added that English, mathematics, physics
and computer science were also important for a career in the games industry.

 

Jacqueline
Cawston from Coventry University’s Serious Games Institute said:

 

“We’re
seeing a rapidly growing appreciation for the importance of the games industry
to education, as well as to the UK economy – as demonstrated by the
government’s recent tax break policy for games development. It’s essential for
the growth of the sector that our young people learn the skills in science and
technology at school that will enable them to write code and develop the games
and apps of the future.”

 

Dr
Christos Gatzidis, Senior Lecturer In Creative Technology, Creative Technology
Framework Leader, at Bournemouth University, said:

 

“For the BSc in
Games Technology at Bournemouth University the current requirement is a minimum
of 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades A* to C, including English and Maths.
GCSEs in subjects such as maths and physics for example are key in terms of forming
an adequate preparation for what is predominantly a programming course (as the
Games Technology one at BU is). Good grades in those bodes well for succeeding
later on in higher education, not to mention subsequently in a career in games
development. Furthermore, it would also be welcome for prospective students in
the future to have studied a proper Computer Science GCSE, as this could also,
depending on the curriculum it has (it is currently set to a September 2013
teaching start), make a real difference, particularly in combination with the
subjects mentioned above.”

 

Thursday's statistics
show a decrease in the proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade in the
core subjects of English, maths and science. The fall is particularly
pronounced in English. In English literature, 76.3% of exams were
awarded A*-C, compared with 78.4% last year, and 23.2% earned at least an A,
down from 25% in 2011. In English language and combined English literature and
language exams, results went down from 65.5% getting A*-C to 64.2%.

 

In science, which has been made harder, there has been a 2.2 percentage
point drop in the proportion of entries awarded an A* to C. 60.7% are achieving
these grades.

 

There has also been a fall in A* to C results in maths, with 58.4% of
entries getting at least a C grade, down from 58.8% in 2011.

Changes are being made to GCSEs in England to make them more rigorous
from September 2012. Marks will be allocated for spelling and grammar and all
exams will be taken at the end of the two-year courses rather than in modules
along the way as is currently the case.

 

 

Notes
to editors:

About
TIGA:

TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s
games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games
developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games
publishers, outsourcing companies, technology
businesses and universities amongst our membership. Since 2010, TIGA has won 12 business awards and has been nominated a finalist for 9
other awards.  In 2010
TIGA won two business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum. In 2011, TIGA won eight business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding
Organisation’ from the Chartered Management Institute and two Global Business
Excellence Awards, including ‘Outstanding Marketing Campaign’.  Richard Wilson won the ‘Leadership Award’
from the Trade Association Forum and the ‘Outstanding Leader’ award from the
Chartered Management Institute. In 2012, Richard Wilson won the IoD’s East of England Director of the Year
Award. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
Also in 2012, TIGA won a Global Business Excellence Award for its ‘Outstanding
Public Relations Campaign’ for Games Tax Relief.

 

TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the
world to do games business.  We focus on three sets of activities:
political representation, generating media coverage and developing services
that enhance the competitiveness of our members.  This means that TIGA
members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is
heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to
their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial
opportunities.

For further information, please contact Dr
Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email: richard.wilson@tiga.org.

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