In reply to tom_in_edinburgh:
> The whole idea of exams and qualifications seems anathema to the adventure climbing ethos of trad. So why have trad in a PE syllabus instead of, say, indoor bouldering which is a competitive sport and accessible to city dwellers.
We may be on the verge of agreement; except that you seem to assume that SPA / CWA assessment are NOT exams and qualifications.
And bouldering is NOT necessarily a 'competitive sport'!
Some big questions embedded in here. What is climbing? Is it discipline exclusive or multi-disciplinary?
Just how do you assess climbing competence?
Is it purely performance based (X number of routes at Y grade) or a more holistic analysis. If the former then you just set up a comp. and the top 10% pass. The rest fail; or get a grade based upon their result. Seems fair?
Is it about a more holistic 'understanding' of the climbing environment and what they are doing within a 'culture' and a demonstration of a variety of approaches to the activity?
The first course is, of course, easy-peasy. The second requires assessment with understanding and empathy.