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| GCSE English plan leaves speaking test out of final grade | GCSE English plan leaves speaking test out of final grade |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The speaking and listening element of GCSE English will no longer form part of the overall grade, under proposals from England's exams regulator Ofqual. | The speaking and listening element of GCSE English will no longer form part of the overall grade, under proposals from England's exams regulator Ofqual. |
| The move follows concerns that over-generous marking of speaking and listening tests by teachers contributed to last year's GCSE English debacle. | The move follows concerns that over-generous marking of speaking and listening tests by teachers contributed to last year's GCSE English debacle. |
| Thousands of students failed to achieve the grades they expected after Ofqual raised the grade boundaries. | Thousands of students failed to achieve the grades they expected after Ofqual raised the grade boundaries. |
| The head's union NAHT warned the plan may risk "profoundly important skills". | The head's union NAHT warned the plan may risk "profoundly important skills". |
| Chief regulator Glenys Stacey described the current GCSE as "seriously flawed". | Chief regulator Glenys Stacey described the current GCSE as "seriously flawed". |
| 'No downgrading' | 'No downgrading' |
| Under the proposals the marks from the speaking and listening tests will be still be recorded on the GCSE certificate but will be separate from the main mark. | Under the proposals the marks from the speaking and listening tests will be still be recorded on the GCSE certificate but will be separate from the main mark. |
| Ofqual says the changes "do not imply any downgrading of speaking and listening skills," and that they should not mean teachers having to alter what they teach. | Ofqual says the changes "do not imply any downgrading of speaking and listening skills," and that they should not mean teachers having to alter what they teach. |
| If adopted the changes would come into force from summer 2014. So they will affect students currently in the first year of their course,. | If adopted the changes would come into force from summer 2014. So they will affect students currently in the first year of their course,. |
| Launching a consultation on the plan Ofqual says the change should help protect against a repeat of last year's problems. | Launching a consultation on the plan Ofqual says the change should help protect against a repeat of last year's problems. |
| In its final report last November into the GCSE English controversy the exam watchdog said it raised grade boundaries last June to compensate for inaccurate marking of speaking and listening tests by teachers. | In its final report last November into the GCSE English controversy the exam watchdog said it raised grade boundaries last June to compensate for inaccurate marking of speaking and listening tests by teachers. |
| Speaking and listening tests are currently administered and marked in schools by teachers. | Speaking and listening tests are currently administered and marked in schools by teachers. |
| At the time Ms Stacey said that it was understandable that teachers were too generous with their marking because of the pressure on schools to achieve good grades. | At the time Ms Stacey said that it was understandable that teachers were too generous with their marking because of the pressure on schools to achieve good grades. |
| Ofqual's consultation document says: "We do not believe that the current arrangements for speaking and listening can produce fair outcomes for students overall... | Ofqual's consultation document says: "We do not believe that the current arrangements for speaking and listening can produce fair outcomes for students overall... |
| "There are no practical arrangements that we consider we can make to ensure assessment of speaking and listening is sufficiently resilient." | "There are no practical arrangements that we consider we can make to ensure assessment of speaking and listening is sufficiently resilient." |
| The changes will mean more emphasis on the written part of the exam as opposed to controlled assessments. | The changes will mean more emphasis on the written part of the exam as opposed to controlled assessments. |
| Under the current arrangements the speaking and listening controlled assessment makes up 20% of the overall grade, with 40% on the reading and writing controlled assessment and 40% on the written exams. | Under the current arrangements the speaking and listening controlled assessment makes up 20% of the overall grade, with 40% on the reading and writing controlled assessment and 40% on the written exams. |
| The proposals will reweight the remaining components and would see written exams counting for 60% of the marks. | The proposals will reweight the remaining components and would see written exams counting for 60% of the marks. |
| Ofqual says that the proposed change would make the exams harder for students who perform well in speaking and listening and less well in written exams. | Ofqual says that the proposed change would make the exams harder for students who perform well in speaking and listening and less well in written exams. |
| 'More robust' | 'More robust' |
| It anticipates that there would be an overall drop in the number of students achieving good grades if the changes go ahead. For these reasons they say grade boundaries "would have to be set one or two marks lower than would otherwise be the case". | It anticipates that there would be an overall drop in the number of students achieving good grades if the changes go ahead. For these reasons they say grade boundaries "would have to be set one or two marks lower than would otherwise be the case". |
| Russell Hobby of the National Association of Head Teachers said: "Speaking and listening are as much a part of English competence as reading and writing. They are profoundly important skills. It is all very well to say they should still be taught even if they are not in the exam but, in the current high stakes system, if they are not tested for the league tables they won't count." | Russell Hobby of the National Association of Head Teachers said: "Speaking and listening are as much a part of English competence as reading and writing. They are profoundly important skills. It is all very well to say they should still be taught even if they are not in the exam but, in the current high stakes system, if they are not tested for the league tables they won't count." |
| Brian Lightman of the Association of School and College Leaders also expressed fears that separated grades might undermine the importance of speaking and listening. | |
| "We would also have serious concerns about the timing of changes to assessment structures. As a matter of principle, changes to assessment should never be introduced after students have started a course," added Mr Lightman. | |
| Ms Stacey said: "Speaking and listening are, of course, very important skills. The proposals should not change what is taught in schools. These skills will still be assessed and the results will still be reported. | Ms Stacey said: "Speaking and listening are, of course, very important skills. The proposals should not change what is taught in schools. These skills will still be assessed and the results will still be reported. |
| "But we have found that the design of the GCSE English qualification is seriously flawed. The proposed changes will make it more robust and will help protect against any repeat of the problems experienced last year. They will also mean a better balance between controlled assessment and written exams for the qualification. | "But we have found that the design of the GCSE English qualification is seriously flawed. The proposed changes will make it more robust and will help protect against any repeat of the problems experienced last year. They will also mean a better balance between controlled assessment and written exams for the qualification. |
| A spokeswoman said the Department for Education supported Ofqual's action "to secure standards and inegrity in these key qualifications" | |
| Labour's shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg warned that it was important that Michael Gove did not downgrade teaching of speaking skills in England's schools. | |
| "As parents know, young people need to be able to communicate confidently and articulately. It is important that the curriculum reflects that, and it's correct these are recorded separately, to ensure transparency." | |
| The consultation is due to end in June. | The consultation is due to end in June. |