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Gove and Twigg clash over exam reform

The education secretary and his opposite number went head-to-head on the same stage this week ― locking horns over what kind of exams system English education should embrace. Pete Henshaw looks at the arguments.

Quoting heavily from Why Students Don’t Like School, a book by American cognitive scientist Professor Daniel T Willingham, education secretary Michael Gove argued this week why “regular, demanding, rigorous examinations” are the best way to advance the doctrine of liberal education.

Meanwhile, quoting the work of Wellington College head Anthony Seldon, Mr Gove’s political opposite, Stephen Twigg, argued from the same stage that we must not forget the importance of character development and the need to address the skills challenge of the 21st century.

The head-to-head debate was played out before an audience at the Independent Academies Association autumn conference last Wednesday (November 14).

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