[wakey]

ICT is a joke as a GCSE, A-Level or Degree subject. Its little more than a mishmash of basic skills and the simplest aspects of other courses thrown together and that makes it somewhat of a soft touch subject. You just have to look at what subject all those 6 year olds that the TV networks like to roll out on exam day have passed their GCSE in to understand that as its nearly always ICT.

IT does have a place in the education system as a good knowledge of IT helps students in not only their educational careers but their future work careers but it needs to be introduced sooner and be more focused on the realistically useful stuff and not the padding. There should probally be some kind of qualification at the end, I would suggest something that works like the American High School diploma where credits are built up over the years to pass.

Then by the time it comes to choosing your GCSE's you will have a good level of IT knowledge and would have more time for subjects that are more 'productive'. If you want to take an aspect of ICT further then you go down the Graphic Design or Computer Science route which are both alot more useful and challenging and better for everyone.

OFC it will never happen, the trend in this country is to remove the aspect of 'losing' be it from the removal of competition in a sport or from the need to ensure no-one fails an exam and everyone ends up getting their Degree. As such they would rather increase the amount of largely useless courses that are 'practical' and have 'transferable skills' as they are easier to pass than courses that require real effort and thought. Due to this your probably right in that ICT will replace science as a core subject. It will however be a sad day when it happens and will spell the complete demise of this country. especially when ICT teachers are like yourself and are sadly clueless and would rather teach kids to do things the wrong way as its 'easier' thus undermining the little benifit and merit that ICT GCSE/A-Level/Degree has