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No re-mark for disputed GCSE English exams, says report No re-mark for disputed GCSE English exams, says report
(35 minutes later)
There is no need to re-mark GCSE English exam papers which received poor grades, a report by the Welsh government has concluded.There is no need to re-mark GCSE English exam papers which received poor grades, a report by the Welsh government has concluded.
Schools were shocked by poor results for exams taken in January, which will contribute towards pupils' final marks this summer.Schools were shocked by poor results for exams taken in January, which will contribute towards pupils' final marks this summer.
Teachers and parents reacted angrily to what they claimed were "unexpectedly low grades" for exams.Teachers and parents reacted angrily to what they claimed were "unexpectedly low grades" for exams.
The Conservatives said the report was little short of a "whitewash".The Conservatives said the report was little short of a "whitewash".
The report found no one single aspect contributed to the poor results.The report found no one single aspect contributed to the poor results.
It stated there would be no justification for re-grading the papers, and the existing results would stand.It stated there would be no justification for re-grading the papers, and the existing results would stand.
However a number of points were highlighted, including a rise of 26% in entries to the January exam compared to last year, and a late change to the exam specification which came once students had already started their course of study.However a number of points were highlighted, including a rise of 26% in entries to the January exam compared to last year, and a late change to the exam specification which came once students had already started their course of study.
The new exam from the WJEC board demanded greater accuracy from pupils, and the report found the "bar has been raised and there are indications of a severe interpretation of the marking scheme". The new exam from WJEC board demanded greater accuracy from pupils, and the report found the "bar has been raised and there are indications of a severe interpretation of the marking scheme".
Teachers were too generous in the grades they predicted for pupils, it added.Teachers were too generous in the grades they predicted for pupils, it added.
The report also said more and better support materials would have helped teachers find the link between specimen answers and make the marking scheme more transparent. It also found the WJEC'S website offering did not meet the needs of teachers. The report also said more and better support materials would have helped teachers find the link between specimen answers and make the marking scheme more transparent. It also found WJEC'S website offering did not meet the needs of teachers.
Communication problems between the WJEC and specialist teachers were highlighted, and the need for greater vigilance by the WJEC following the lower results. Communication problems between WJEC and specialist teachers were highlighted, and the need for greater vigilance by WJEC following the lower results.
The report said the exam body should have picked up on them and reported to the Welsh government earlier.The report said the exam body should have picked up on them and reported to the Welsh government earlier.
The report also said that unless the WJEC could provide a compelling reason for a different outcome students were expected to achieve broadly the same results as those from summer 2013. The report also said that unless WJEC could provide a compelling reason for a different outcome students were expected to achieve broadly the same results as those from summer 2013.
The WJEC previously promised to re-mark a small number of papers handled by one examiner. WJEC previously promised to re-mark a small number of papers handled by one examiner.
This potentially affected results for less than 2% of candidates.This potentially affected results for less than 2% of candidates.
The report's authors said: "Generally the examination papers matched teachers' expectations of the new specification and there were few surprises for teachers or pupils.The report's authors said: "Generally the examination papers matched teachers' expectations of the new specification and there were few surprises for teachers or pupils.
"There is no evidence to suggest that WJEC did not follow the correct procedures at all times.""There is no evidence to suggest that WJEC did not follow the correct procedures at all times."
Education Minister Huw Lewis is due to give his response to the report to AMs on Tuesday.Education Minister Huw Lewis is due to give his response to the report to AMs on Tuesday.
Shadow education minister Angela Burns AM claimed the report failed to explain why exam results were so much lower than predicted.Shadow education minister Angela Burns AM claimed the report failed to explain why exam results were so much lower than predicted.
"Students, teachers and parents remain in the dark about how many exam papers will be remarked and how their overall grades will be affected," she said."Students, teachers and parents remain in the dark about how many exam papers will be remarked and how their overall grades will be affected," she said.
"It is little short of a whitewash.""It is little short of a whitewash."
'Eroded confidence''Eroded confidence'
The unit, or module, was part of the first Wales-only GCSE examinations, ordered after a split between England, Northern Ireland and Wales in 2012.The unit, or module, was part of the first Wales-only GCSE examinations, ordered after a split between England, Northern Ireland and Wales in 2012.
WJEC said the new GCSE English exam was designed to place a higher emphasis on accuracy in terms of sentence construction, punctuation and spelling.WJEC said the new GCSE English exam was designed to place a higher emphasis on accuracy in terms of sentence construction, punctuation and spelling.
Responding to the Welsh government report, WJEC said it was already implementing action called for in the report such as providing post-exam review meetings for teachers.
Chief executive Gareth Pierce said WJEC was committed to working with the Welsh government and others to "ensure the provision of training events and a strong set of support resources, including online provision".
"WJEC sympathises with candidates and teachers who have been affected by the unexpected outcomes for these January series units, but hope that this review provides the context for these outcomes and that the steps now being put in place will ensure confidence in arrangements for the summer series and for subsequent years," he said.
"WJEC supports the direction of the Welsh government's qualifications reform agenda. We are committed to playing our part in ensuring the successful and timely development and delivery of the new qualifications."
About 22,500 pupils sat the paper in January but there was shock and anger on 6 March when many students were given lower grades than they and their schools had expected.About 22,500 pupils sat the paper in January but there was shock and anger on 6 March when many students were given lower grades than they and their schools had expected.
Head teachers wrote to Mr Lewis saying the results had eroded confidence in the examinations system.Head teachers wrote to Mr Lewis saying the results had eroded confidence in the examinations system.
But the WJEC carried out an internal review and said the marking scheme was applied consistently in all but one of the cases reviewed. But WJEC carried out an internal review and said the marking scheme was applied consistently in all but one of the cases reviewed.
It said the six centres whose candidates' work was marked by that examiner had been told and 318 papers would be re-marked.It said the six centres whose candidates' work was marked by that examiner had been told and 318 papers would be re-marked.
However the board said the original marking had only been "slightly inconsistent" with "no sizeable disparities identified" compared to other examiners.However the board said the original marking had only been "slightly inconsistent" with "no sizeable disparities identified" compared to other examiners.
The internal review also found the results of papers from two pupils had been added up incorrectly.The internal review also found the results of papers from two pupils had been added up incorrectly.
Following the outcry at the grades awarded, exam officials stressed that the tougher requirements on accuracy and a much higher number of students taking the papers could explain lower grades.Following the outcry at the grades awarded, exam officials stressed that the tougher requirements on accuracy and a much higher number of students taking the papers could explain lower grades.
WJEC officials have written to schools promising more support in the run-up to the next round of exams in June.WJEC officials have written to schools promising more support in the run-up to the next round of exams in June.