Menu
12/09/2012
Welsh GCSE English Papers To Be Regraded
In ongoing controversy over GCSE English results, education secretary Michael Gove has attacked his Welsh counterpart as "irresponsible and mistaken" for ordering disputed GCSEs to be regraded.
Mr Gove has been giving evidence to the education select committee's investigation into head teachers' claims of unfair GCSE grades.
He told MPs that raising Welsh pupils' grades would "undermine confidence" in the value of their qualifications.
However, the Welsh education minister had said he wanted to resolve an "injustice".
On Tuesday, Leighton Andrews ordered the WJEC exam board to carry out a regrading of GCSE English exams for pupils who took the exam in Wales.
This is likely to see some students in Wales being moved up from a D grade to a C grade - which is key to allowing them to continue on to A-levels.
Ofqual has refused to change grades in England. This means that pupils in England and Wales could have different exam grades for the same marks - which Mr Gove said would weaken the value of the GCSEs in Wales in the eyes of employers.
Mr Andrews had said that pupils in Wales should not have to "live with the consequences of having been awarded what, in all likelihood, is the wrong GCSE grade".
More pupils took the WJEC English paper in England than in Wales - and schools in England have been angered at the prospect of their pupils being put at a disadvantage in this conflict between regulators, politicians and exam boards.
"The awarding of lower grades has been unjust to our pupils and the decision to regrade Welsh pupils and refuse to do the same for candidates in England is a further injustice," said Patrick Ferguson, principal of The De La Salle Academy in Croxteth, Liverpool.
"This could have a life-changing impact upon our students and we are not prepared to stand by and watch it happen."
(H)
Mr Gove has been giving evidence to the education select committee's investigation into head teachers' claims of unfair GCSE grades.
He told MPs that raising Welsh pupils' grades would "undermine confidence" in the value of their qualifications.
However, the Welsh education minister had said he wanted to resolve an "injustice".
On Tuesday, Leighton Andrews ordered the WJEC exam board to carry out a regrading of GCSE English exams for pupils who took the exam in Wales.
This is likely to see some students in Wales being moved up from a D grade to a C grade - which is key to allowing them to continue on to A-levels.
Ofqual has refused to change grades in England. This means that pupils in England and Wales could have different exam grades for the same marks - which Mr Gove said would weaken the value of the GCSEs in Wales in the eyes of employers.
Mr Andrews had said that pupils in Wales should not have to "live with the consequences of having been awarded what, in all likelihood, is the wrong GCSE grade".
More pupils took the WJEC English paper in England than in Wales - and schools in England have been angered at the prospect of their pupils being put at a disadvantage in this conflict between regulators, politicians and exam boards.
"The awarding of lower grades has been unjust to our pupils and the decision to regrade Welsh pupils and refuse to do the same for candidates in England is a further injustice," said Patrick Ferguson, principal of The De La Salle Academy in Croxteth, Liverpool.
"This could have a life-changing impact upon our students and we are not prepared to stand by and watch it happen."
(H)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 August 2004
GCSE pupils net biggest rise in top grades for five years
Pupil achievement at GCSE level has risen again, after results published today revealed the biggest rise in top grades since 1999. The results show that A* to C grades increased by 1.1% to 59.2% - and nearly 98% of entrants achieved a grade A* to G. Boys improved their overall performance at grades A*-C by 1.3% compared to 0.9% for girls.
GCSE pupils net biggest rise in top grades for five years
Pupil achievement at GCSE level has risen again, after results published today revealed the biggest rise in top grades since 1999. The results show that A* to C grades increased by 1.1% to 59.2% - and nearly 98% of entrants achieved a grade A* to G. Boys improved their overall performance at grades A*-C by 1.3% compared to 0.9% for girls.
08 December 2011
Report Finds Exam Remark Rise
A report published on Wednesday has revealed an increase in the amount of remarked exam papers, with almost 30,000 grades being changed across GCE and GCSE results. More than 200,000 test papers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were sent for re-marking as pupils appeal their grades.
Report Finds Exam Remark Rise
A report published on Wednesday has revealed an increase in the amount of remarked exam papers, with almost 30,000 grades being changed across GCE and GCSE results. More than 200,000 test papers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were sent for re-marking as pupils appeal their grades.
11 October 2012
Thousands To Resit English GCSE
Some 45,000 students will resit their English GCSEs next month following a dispute over grades, the BBC has reported. The broadcaster has said figures given to them by exam boards show that the number to resit is about one in 14 of those who took the exam earlier this year.
Thousands To Resit English GCSE
Some 45,000 students will resit their English GCSEs next month following a dispute over grades, the BBC has reported. The broadcaster has said figures given to them by exam boards show that the number to resit is about one in 14 of those who took the exam earlier this year.
15 January 2004
GCSE results continue to show improvement
Today's GCSE/GNVQ performance tables have revealed that specialist schools outperformed non-specialist schools and schools facing challenging circumstances improved at double the national rate, the government claimed today. According to today's tables, the overall percentage of pupils receiving good grades at GCSE has improved – a 1.
GCSE results continue to show improvement
Today's GCSE/GNVQ performance tables have revealed that specialist schools outperformed non-specialist schools and schools facing challenging circumstances improved at double the national rate, the government claimed today. According to today's tables, the overall percentage of pupils receiving good grades at GCSE has improved – a 1.
25 August 2011
'Record-breaking Results' For GCSE Students
Around 750,000 students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their GCSE results today in another year of record-breaking results. The number of top grades awarded to students has risen every year since the exams were first introduced in 1988 and it was revealed that just under 70% of results were awarded a grade between A* and C.
'Record-breaking Results' For GCSE Students
Around 750,000 students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their GCSE results today in another year of record-breaking results. The number of top grades awarded to students has risen every year since the exams were first introduced in 1988 and it was revealed that just under 70% of results were awarded a grade between A* and C.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cloudy morning with some outbreaks of rain, some on the heavy side. Then turning brighter in afternoon with sunny intervals and more isolated showers. Fresh southeatserly winds. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with some sunshine to end the day, then staying dry overnight with some clear periods. Winds easing. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
