Anger as Ofqual refuses to regrade GCSE papers
EXAMS regulator Ofqual has refused to regrade this summer’s GCSE English papers despite a row over the results.
Many schools, including Calder High in Mytholmroyd, asked for the exam papers to be re-assessed as lots of pupils throughout the country missed out on a crucial C grade.
Ofqual acknowledged grade boundaries had changed part way through the year but has stood by the new June grading system.
Instead of the papers being regraded, Ofqual said pupils would be offered early resits in November.
Sue McMahon, secretary of the Calderdale branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: “This has wrecked the life chances of our young people.
“It’s an absolute disgrace that Ofqual has offered a re-sit because, as teachers will realise, a lot of these young people will no longer be in education.
“It’s essential that you get a C in English and maths.
“Calderdale Council should be following the lead of other councils in our region that are looking into legal action.
“I can’t tell you how incensed English teachers are about what this has done for our young people.”
Headteachers throughout the country have claimed that those who took the exam in June were put at an unfair advantage over those who sat the paper earlier in the year.
Many pupils who had been expecting a crucial C grade were given a D as a result of the grade boundary changes, meaning they were denied college places.
Education secretary Michael Gove has been called to explain to MPs what happened in this year’s exams.
He has admitted students were treated unfairly but said it was beyond his remit to order the grade boundaries to be adjusted.
Calder High School expressed its disappointment wih English results and requested the entire year 11 cohort of controlled assesments to be re-marked.
Overall, the number of students achieving five A*-C grades at the school dropped to 76 per cent, a decrease of four per cent on the previous year.
While many schools saw their GCSE scores fall this summer, Todmorden High’s results increased by five per cent.
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