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English GCSEs won't be re-graded, says Ofqual English GCSEs won't be regraded, says Ofqual
(35 minutes later)
England's exams regulator, Ofqual, will not be ordering exam boards to re-grade this summer's English GCSE, its review says. England's exams regulator, Ofqual, has refused to order exam boards to regrade this summer's English GCSE in a row over this year's results.
Head teachers urged Ofqual to investigate when it was revealed that grade boundaries for the exams were changed part way through the year.Head teachers urged Ofqual to investigate when it was revealed that grade boundaries for the exams were changed part way through the year.
The regulator said the January papers were marked too leniently, but stood by the new June grade boundaries.The regulator said the January papers were marked too leniently, but stood by the new June grade boundaries.
Instead of re-grading, pupils would be offered an early re-sit. Instead of regrading, pupils would be offered early resits, Ofqual said.
Many pupils who were expecting a crucial C grade were given a D as a result. Heads claim those who sat the exam in June were put at an unfair advantage because of the changes. Heads claim those who sat the exam in June were put at an unfair disadvantage because of the changes.
Many pupils who were expecting a crucial C grade were given a D as a result of the grade boundary changes, they claim.
Ofqual chief executive Glenys Stacey said she had looked carefully at how the exam boards had managed the awarding of all GCSE qualifications this year.
She said: "People were particularly concerned about the June grade boundaries.
"We have found that examiners acted properly, and set the boundaries using their best professional judgement, taking into account all of the evidence available to them.
"The June boundaries have been properly set, and candidates' work properly graded.
"The issue is not the June, but the January boundaries. Again, examiners used their best judgement in setting these boundaries, but they had less data and information to work with."
Early resits
This was partly because fewer candidates sat the exam in January. Some 7% sat the unit causing concern in January, compared with 93% in June.
And because the exams were new qualifications, examiners could not rely so much on direct comparisons with the past, Ms Stacey added.
"As a result, those grade boundaries were set generously," she said.
Ofqual had thought carefully about what should be done, adding that its job was to ensure grades were comparable from one year to the next, said Ms Stacey.
The exam boards recognised the strength of feeling, she said, and would be offering early resits for students who sat the June units.
GCSE English grades at A* to C fell by 1.5%, but some schools saw much bigger falls.GCSE English grades at A* to C fell by 1.5%, but some schools saw much bigger falls.
The National Association of Head Teachers wrote to Education Secretary Michael Gove and Ofqual chief executive to call for an inquiry. The National Association of Head Teachers wrote to Education Secretary Michael Gove and the Ofqual chief last week to call for an inquiry.
Ofqual's Glenys Stacey agreed to investigate saying there were "questions" over how grade bands were set. Overall, this year's GCSE results showed the first fall in the A* to C grades since they were introduced.
This year's GCSE results showed the first fall in the A* to C grades since they were introduced.