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09/01/2018
Concerns Raised After Pupils Coursework Revoked Over Online Leak
Serious concerns have been raised after it was revealed hundreds of pupils will have their GCSE computer science coursework revoked after details of the task were leaked online.
The decision was taken by exams regulator Ofqual and it is worth one fifth of the overall mark.
The SDLP is calling for a review to be carried out as it "cannot be repeated in the future".
Spokesperson Colin McGrath said: "I understand that this was a difficult call for the exams regulator to make and that their primary concern is ensuring the integrity of the qualification by making sure no students benefit from an unfair advantage over others.
"GCSEs are a very intense and difficult period for young people. This kind of disruption will only add further pressure to those students preparing for exams and will appear grossly unfair to those who approached the coursework in good faith."
Sinn Féin MLA, Karen Mullan, said: "Although these are all English-based boards, many local pupils who sit their exams through these bodies are being penalised as their coursework will not be counted towards their final grade.
"That is hugely unfortunate and unfair on those pupils who completed their work with integrity.
"Lessons need to be learned from this episode and every possible measure taken to ensure that flaws in the GCSE assessment process do not penalise students and that the integrity of the GCSE process is maintained."
(CD/JP)
The decision was taken by exams regulator Ofqual and it is worth one fifth of the overall mark.
The SDLP is calling for a review to be carried out as it "cannot be repeated in the future".
Spokesperson Colin McGrath said: "I understand that this was a difficult call for the exams regulator to make and that their primary concern is ensuring the integrity of the qualification by making sure no students benefit from an unfair advantage over others.
"GCSEs are a very intense and difficult period for young people. This kind of disruption will only add further pressure to those students preparing for exams and will appear grossly unfair to those who approached the coursework in good faith."
Sinn Féin MLA, Karen Mullan, said: "Although these are all English-based boards, many local pupils who sit their exams through these bodies are being penalised as their coursework will not be counted towards their final grade.
"That is hugely unfortunate and unfair on those pupils who completed their work with integrity.
"Lessons need to be learned from this episode and every possible measure taken to ensure that flaws in the GCSE assessment process do not penalise students and that the integrity of the GCSE process is maintained."
(CD/JP)
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