Grammar gets exam go-ahead

By REBECCA WALSH

Auckland Grammar School has been cleared to offer Cambridge University A level examinations.

It is the first school in New Zealand to offer the international exam and more schools look likely to follow.

Headmaster John Morris said both school and pupils would benefit.

"It's been a good exercise for us. The more we talk to the people from Cambridge, the more we are convinced we did the right thing."

The school had been concerned that the new National Certificate of Educational Achievement would result in a dumbing-down of academic standards.

The national certificate will be based on a mixture of internal assessment and external exams.

The school will offer the local curriculum and qualification, but students will also have the option of taking the international exam.

Yesterday the school passed an inspection by Cambridge University's Local Examinations Syndicate director for Asia Pacific, Christine Cayley, approving it as a Cambridge Centre and Cambridge International Partner.

Mr Morris said some students would sit the exam this year, and it would be fully in use by 2002.