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12/10/2012
Schools Rendered "Failing" By GCSE Fiasco
This year’s school league tables will be rendered “invalid”, and leave many schools unjustly labelled as "failing", following the summers English GCSE grading controversy.
The Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Brian Lightman said a quarter of schools saw dramatic falls in the headline GCSE scores used to measure success.
In an open letter to the chairman of the Commons Education Committee Graham Stuart, Mr Lightman said a "gross injustice" had been done to many young people.
He said the ASCL, which is part of a group threatening a judicial review of the grading decisions, had amassed a vast amount of feedback from schools over the past few weeks.
He warned that the series of events had led to "a profound crisis of confidence amongst school and college leaders, teachers, parents and students in our current examinations system".
According to ASCL research around a quarter of secondary schools nationally saw a drop of at least 10 percentage points in the number of pupils gaining five GCSEs A* to C including English and maths, and a further fifth saw drops of 15 percentage points.
"The schools involved are a complete cross-section including academies, 'outstanding schools', rural, inner city etc,” he said.
Adding: "The key overt distinguishing factor" was the time pupils sat certain parts of the English exam.
"It renders invalid this year's performance league tables and the data that's used for the basis of the whole accountability system because they are not results that reflect trends within schools.
"It has pushed lots of schools below the floor standards."
Ofqual has already said in an interim report on the issue that the January grading was too lenient, and is standing by the harsher June grades. It is due to report more fully on the issue shortly.
(H)
The Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Brian Lightman said a quarter of schools saw dramatic falls in the headline GCSE scores used to measure success.
In an open letter to the chairman of the Commons Education Committee Graham Stuart, Mr Lightman said a "gross injustice" had been done to many young people.
He said the ASCL, which is part of a group threatening a judicial review of the grading decisions, had amassed a vast amount of feedback from schools over the past few weeks.
He warned that the series of events had led to "a profound crisis of confidence amongst school and college leaders, teachers, parents and students in our current examinations system".
According to ASCL research around a quarter of secondary schools nationally saw a drop of at least 10 percentage points in the number of pupils gaining five GCSEs A* to C including English and maths, and a further fifth saw drops of 15 percentage points.
"The schools involved are a complete cross-section including academies, 'outstanding schools', rural, inner city etc,” he said.
Adding: "The key overt distinguishing factor" was the time pupils sat certain parts of the English exam.
"It renders invalid this year's performance league tables and the data that's used for the basis of the whole accountability system because they are not results that reflect trends within schools.
"It has pushed lots of schools below the floor standards."
Ofqual has already said in an interim report on the issue that the January grading was too lenient, and is standing by the harsher June grades. It is due to report more fully on the issue shortly.
(H)
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25 April 2013
Ofqual Propose Changes To GCSE English Grading
New proposals from England’s exams regulator will see the speaking and listening element of GCSE English no longer forming part of the overall grade. It follows concerns that over-generous marking of speaking and listening tests contributed to last year's GCSE English debacle.
Ofqual Propose Changes To GCSE English Grading
New proposals from England’s exams regulator will see the speaking and listening element of GCSE English no longer forming part of the overall grade. It follows concerns that over-generous marking of speaking and listening tests contributed to last year's GCSE English debacle.
11 September 2012
GCSE English Grading Controversy Continues
There have been "major flaws" and unfairness in this year's GCSE English grades, head teachers' leader Brian Lightman has told MPs. The comments come as the Education Select Committee investigate claims that grades have been manipulated downwards.
GCSE English Grading Controversy Continues
There have been "major flaws" and unfairness in this year's GCSE English grades, head teachers' leader Brian Lightman has told MPs. The comments come as the Education Select Committee investigate claims that grades have been manipulated downwards.
24 September 2012
Nick Clegg Critical Of Welsh Government Over GCSE Re-grading
The decision by the Welsh education minister's to order a re-grading of some GCSE English papers in Wales has been criticised by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg Speaking to BBC Wales, Mr Clegg said that Leighton Andrews appeared to be "shifting goalposts" for children in Wales.
Nick Clegg Critical Of Welsh Government Over GCSE Re-grading
The decision by the Welsh education minister's to order a re-grading of some GCSE English papers in Wales has been criticised by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg Speaking to BBC Wales, Mr Clegg said that Leighton Andrews appeared to be "shifting goalposts" for children in Wales.
17 April 2003
Regional imports suffer £1bn slump
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Regional imports suffer £1bn slump
Government figures released today have revealed that the value of regional imports has slumped by around £1 billion over the past quarter. According the Customs and Excise report, estimates for the fourth quarter 2002 saw regional imports dip £1 billion, or 2%, on the third quarter's figures to £51.4 billion.
16 February 2005
Specialist schools improving faster than other schools
Specialist schools are performing better than other schools in England, a report by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has reported. The education watchdog found that pupils in specialist schools have performed better at GCSEs since 1998 and the rate of improvement in GCSE results was also faster in these schools.
Specialist schools improving faster than other schools
Specialist schools are performing better than other schools in England, a report by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has reported. The education watchdog found that pupils in specialist schools have performed better at GCSEs since 1998 and the rate of improvement in GCSE results was also faster in these schools.
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