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GCSE English exams: Letter gave assurances on changes GCSE English exams: Letter gave assurances on changes
(about 1 hour later)
Schools were given assurances 16 months ago by the Welsh government that new English language GCSE exams would not disadvantage pupils, BBC Wales learns. Schools were assured 16 months ago by the Welsh government that pupils would not be disadvantaged by new English language GCSEs, BBC Wales has learned.
Teachers from 100 schools have expressed anger at results received by pupils taking the new exam in January. There was shock and anger on 6 March at unexpected poor grades awarded to pupils who sat the new exam in January.
Head teachers in Rhondda Cynon Taf council wrote to the education minister saying the test results have eroded confidence in the examinations system. And head teachers have written to the education minister saying the test results have eroded confidence in the examinations system.
The Welsh government says it is conducting a "rapid review". A "rapid review" is being conducted by the Welsh government into the matter.
BBC Wales has seen a copy of a letter sent in October 2012 by the then director of the Welsh government's schools department, Chris Tweedale. Parents and teachers reacted furiously when pupils who had taken the new exam were awarded "unexpectedly low" results for GCSE English language exams sat earlier this year.
The unit (or module) was part of the first Wales-only GCSE examinations, ordered after a split between Northern Ireland, England and Wales in 2012.
It followed a row over GCSE English exam results that year which led to thousands of papers being re-graded.
Teaching unions have said teachers from 100 schools around Wales have expressed anger at results from the new exams and head teachers in Rhondda Cynon Taf council wrote to the education minister saying the test results have eroded confidence in the examinations system.
On Thursday, BBC Wales was shown a copy of another letter sent in October 2012 by the then director of the Welsh government's schools department Chris Tweedale assuring that pupils would not be disadvantaged by the new exams.
He was addressing concerns by head teachers and English teachers about the introduction of new specifications for the English language GCSE exam.He was addressing concerns by head teachers and English teachers about the introduction of new specifications for the English language GCSE exam.
The letter states: "I acknowledge that the steps that have been taken with regard to the introduction of the new qualification are unusual and, to a degree, unsettling.The letter states: "I acknowledge that the steps that have been taken with regard to the introduction of the new qualification are unusual and, to a degree, unsettling.
"Ordinarily, we would always try to ensure that new or revised qualification specifications are available to schools well before the start of the first academic year, but these are exceptional circumstances."Ordinarily, we would always try to ensure that new or revised qualification specifications are available to schools well before the start of the first academic year, but these are exceptional circumstances.
"The Welsh government will be closely monitoring the introduction, delivery and awarding of this new qualification to ensure that learners are not unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged by its introduction.""The Welsh government will be closely monitoring the introduction, delivery and awarding of this new qualification to ensure that learners are not unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged by its introduction."
'Massive disappointment' Following the outcry of the grades awarded, exam officials have stressed that tougher requirements on accuracy in the new exam, and a much higher number of students taking the papers, could explain lower grades.
The unit (or module) was part of the first Wales-only GCSE examinations, ordered after a split between Northern Ireland, England and Wales in 2012. But Education Minister Huw Lewis has said: "I have ordered a rapid review of GCSE English language unit results which will focus specifically on learners and will be based on evidence.
The Association of School and College Leavers (ASCL) union said it has received evidence from more than 100 schools that results received by pupils from the new English GCSE in January were not in line with expectations in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Gwynedd and Anglesey, and it was was expecting to hear more concerns from teachers in Cardiff.
ASCL secretary Robin Hughes said the schools had been in touch in the week since the results to express their "massive disappointment" as well as anger and confusion.
Angela Burns AM, the Conservative shadow education minister, said she was aware that head teachers in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire had also spoken out.
It comes as head teachers in Rhondda Cynon Taf wrote to Education Minister Huw Lewis with concerns about the exam results.
The letter to the minister, signed by the heads of the county borough's 19 secondary schools as well as the council's director of education, said "results have negatively impacted the progress and attitude of a whole cohort of students".
It added: "We are extremely worried that students and parents are gradually losing faith in a once reliable examination system."
And it said as schools in the Rhondda Cynon Taf council area have collectively spent upwards of £60,000 on the January exams so teachers "strongly believe that each child should be allowed to resit in the summer free of charge".
'Prepare learners'
They have demanded a rethink about how the examination is going to be developed with "proper pilots and comprehensive training for staff".
Exam officials have stressed that tougher requirements on accuracy in the new exam, and a much higher number of students taking the papers, could explain lower grades.
In response to the letter sent by the group in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), Mr Lewis said he refused to "jump to conclusions", adding "what I am focusing on is hard evidence, not hearsay and rumour".
He said: "There is no denying that there have been some important issues across Wales which need to be addressed, but the impact is not severe across all schools.
"The tone of the RCT Association of Secondary Head Teachers implies that this has been a systemic issue, but we know already that is not the case.
"I have ordered a rapid review of GCSE English language unit results which will focus specifically on learners and will be based on evidence.
"The review will be swift and thorough. It will identify factors underlying the results and put in place appropriate actions to support schools as they prepare learners for the June assessments.""The review will be swift and thorough. It will identify factors underlying the results and put in place appropriate actions to support schools as they prepare learners for the June assessments."
A Welsh government spokesperson added: "We are focussing on hard evidence. The learner is our primary concern and we will put in place all of the support needed to ensure that no pupil is disadvantaged through no fault of their own." A Welsh government spokesperson added: "We are focusing on hard evidence. The learner is our primary concern and we will put in place all of the support needed to ensure that no pupil is disadvantaged through no fault of their own."
As well as the internal review into marking, the exam board WJEC said schools and exam centres could still challenge individual results, using the traditional appeal route.
Ms Burns said: "Although I do hold teachers to account, and if there are teachers out there who did not prepare themselves for these changes we must hold them to account, but what I am worried about is the mood music coming from the [Welsh] government... that it is down to teachers," she said.
"This review has got to be thorough and accurate."