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| GCSE changes 'could see unpredictable results' | GCSE changes 'could see unpredictable results' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government's planned overhaul of GCSEs in England could see results "varying more than normal" for several years, the exams regulator has said. | |
| The changes could result in GCSE exam results becoming less predictable, Ofqual said. | |
| In a letter to Education Secretary Michael Gove, the head of Ofqual, Glenys Stacey, called for a period of stability in the exams system. | |
| Her comments are in response to a consultation on school accountability. | Her comments are in response to a consultation on school accountability. |
| In February, Mr Gove announced that secondary schools in England would no longer be judged on the proportion of pupils who achieved five or more A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and maths. | |
| Instead two new league-table measures will be introduced, examining the percentage of pupils who reach a set threshold in English and maths, and an average points score showing how much progress each child makes between the end of primary school and GCSE level in eight subjects. | |
| This followed concerns that current accountability measures encourage schools to "play the system" to boost their league-table standing. | |
| In her response to the Department for Education's (DfE) consultation on the changes to accountability, Ms Stacey says she believes the proposals are "very much in the right direction". | In her response to the Department for Education's (DfE) consultation on the changes to accountability, Ms Stacey says she believes the proposals are "very much in the right direction". |
| But she notes that the plans mean the subjects included in the "best eight" measure are counted equally. | But she notes that the plans mean the subjects included in the "best eight" measure are counted equally. |
| "You may want to consider giving different weights to the eight qualifications to recognise the particular importance of English and maths in the overall mix." | "You may want to consider giving different weights to the eight qualifications to recognise the particular importance of English and maths in the overall mix." |
| She also says league tables should not "over-emphasise" certain grade boundaries in key subjects. | She also says league tables should not "over-emphasise" certain grade boundaries in key subjects. |
| "You will need to make sure you do not over-emphasise grade threshold measures of threshold performance in key qualifications." | "You will need to make sure you do not over-emphasise grade threshold measures of threshold performance in key qualifications." |
| 'Kept stable' | 'Kept stable' |
| The letter continues: "Ideally, qualifications used in accountability measures will be kept stable over a period of years. | The letter continues: "Ideally, qualifications used in accountability measures will be kept stable over a period of years. |
| "When qualifications change, results vary more than normal - both between schools and from year to year - and this variability is inevitable for several years as reforms work their way through the system. | "When qualifications change, results vary more than normal - both between schools and from year to year - and this variability is inevitable for several years as reforms work their way through the system. |
| "What is more, with improved GCSE assessment, results are likely to prove less predictable in future years, and more variable school by school. | "What is more, with improved GCSE assessment, results are likely to prove less predictable in future years, and more variable school by school. |
| "It is tempting, as soon as something is quantified, to assume it to be a more precise measure than it can ever really be. | "It is tempting, as soon as something is quantified, to assume it to be a more precise measure than it can ever really be. |
| "This needs to be recognised in the use of accountability measures by DfE, Ofsted and other users." | "This needs to be recognised in the use of accountability measures by DfE, Ofsted and other users." |
| The government has announced plans for major GCSE reform which will see exams sat at the end of two-year courses, rather than in modules throughout, as well as an increase in extended questions and less internal assessment. | The government has announced plans for major GCSE reform which will see exams sat at the end of two-year courses, rather than in modules throughout, as well as an increase in extended questions and less internal assessment. |
| Revised GCSEs in academic subjects, including English and maths, are due to be introduced in 2015. | Revised GCSEs in academic subjects, including English and maths, are due to be introduced in 2015. |
| However, Mr Gove stopped short of introducing a new qualification for 16-year-olds called the English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBCs). | However, Mr Gove stopped short of introducing a new qualification for 16-year-olds called the English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBCs). |