'Championing the rights of children'

Ofqual review of GCSE English grade claims angers heads

Garry Sat 01 Sep 2012 08:50

Head teachers have been left angered by the refusal of exam regulator Ofqual to order exam boards to regrade this summer's GCSEs in English.

On Friday the body for England acknowledged grade boundaries had changed between January and June but offered only resits to affected pupils.

One head teachers' union said there had been a "systemic failure" and it was still considering legal action.

Labour is planning to raise the issue in the House of Commons on Monday.

Teaching unions are angered that many pupils now face the prospect of resitting exams rather than having their papers automatically regraded.

They claim those who sat the exam in June were at a disadvantage, compared with those who had sat English GCSE earlier in the year, because the summer's exams were marked over-harshly after Ofqual had told exam boards to keep an eye on grade inflation.

Head teachers' union the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), which had urged Ofqual to investigate, said it was still considering a legal challenge on the issue.

Many pupils who had been expecting a crucial C grade were given a D as a result of the grade boundary changes. This means some will be denied college places.

ASCL general secretary Brian Lightman said there had been "a systemic failure over the awarding of English GCSE grades".

Read more ... (BBC News - 1 September)