Welsh Government warned regrade would 'damage' GCSE
Emails released by Welsh Government show that the exam board warned that a regrade of GCSE English papers would affect integrity
Education Minister defends GCSE regrade in Wales
Education Minister Leighton Andrews has told AMs he stands by his decision to order a regrade for this year's English Language GCSEs
No Welsh GCSE replacement decision until December
Following the decision by Westminister to replace the GCSEs in England, the Welsh Government says it won't rush into a decision here.
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Education Minister defends GCSE regrade in Wales
Education Minister Leighton Andrews has defended his decision to order the Welsh exam board WJEC to regrade 2,386 English Language GCSEs in Wales. Mr Andrews told AMs that the original move to lower grades was 'unjustified and unfair' and said the regraded results are now 'fairer and truer.'
GCSE row could cause 'lasting damage' to students - True Wales
Campaigners opposed to further devolution say they fear the GCSE regrade row could mean that any new exam system in Wales would be seen as a 'poor man's alternative' to qualifications in England. The True Wales group says the regrade could 'do lasting damage.' Its statement says,
True Wales is deeply concerned about the haste with which Leighton Andrews ordered the regrading of GCSE English exam papers in Wales. We fear that a perception that it is easier to gain a 'C' in Wales than in England will become widespread and may do lasting damage to the prospects of future generations of Welsh students who wish to work or study outside Wales.
The row has increased speculation that pupils on different sides of the border will ultimately sit different exams. True Wales is concerned about this outcome:
We are disappointed that tensions between Cardiff Bay and Westminster have led to the likely eventuality of separate examination systems for England and Wales and feel that the events of this summer mean that any new system in Wales will be seen as a poor man's alternative.
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Minister to give update on GCSE situation in Wales.
The Welsh Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, will today update Assembly Members on the current GCSE situation in Wales.
Last week over 2,000 Welsh youngsters received a re-graded English language paper after the Minister decided that papers should be re-marked.
The decision caused a cross-border row after he came in for heavy critcism from Education Secretary, Michael Gove.
"Our pupils are delighted... there was an injustice"
Pupils at Barry Comprehensive School are among some 2,000 Welsh teenagers receiving their improved English Language GCSE results today.
Headteacher Gerard McNamara told ITV Wales his pupils were 'delighted' with their higher grades and were now able to focus on their A-levels.
Welsh exam board the WJEC was ordered to re-grade the papers in a controversial move by Education Minister Leighton Andrews.
It followed concerns that a change in grading boundaries meant some students were awarded lower grades than expected.
However, pupils in England who sat the same exams set by the WJEC will not have their grades changed.
New English GCSE grades for pupils
Over two thousand teenagers across Wales will receive their improved English language GCSE results today.
Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews ordered the re-grade after pupils received worse grades than expected.
Education Union: Minister commended for 'bold and decisive action'
Speaking after the announcement by the WJEC that over 2,000 candidates have received improved grades after a re-grade ordered by the Education Minister, Dr Philip Dixon of The Association of Teachers and Lecturers said:
We are delighted for these youngsters. They are now receiving the grades they would have received in any normal year...and they have the chance of a brighter future.
The Minister is to be commended for such bold and decisive action. The few embittered voices who will try to deny these youngsters their success will clearly be seen for the politically motivated killjoys they are.
This entire fiasco shows why we in Wales are thinking long and hard about the best qualifications system for our young people.
He went on to say:
– Dr Philip Dixon, Director Association of Teachers and LecturersThe Review of Qualifications to be published in November will hopefully chart a clear course for us. This findings of this well researched and well evidenced Review will be in sharp distinction to the hastily cobbled together and ill-thought-through Ebac announced yesterday in England.
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Over 2,000 GCSE students to have English Language grades increased
The WJEC has confirmed that over 2,000 GCSE students will have their English Language grades increased.
The exam board was ordered to re-grade the papers by Education Minister Leighton Andrews following concerns over a change in grading boundaries introduced mid-way through the academic year.
It has been confirmed that 1,202 students will have their grades increased from a D to a C and 598 from a C grade to a B.
The lowering of grade boundaries also meant there were some changes at other grades, resulting in an overall figure of 2386 receiving raised grades.
Leighton Andrews attacks proposed GCSE replacement in England
The English Backofafagpacket. Adapted from @hoodedman1187
From @LeightonAndrews on Twitter:Regraded English Language GCSE results due
The WJEC will today issue the regraded results of English GCSEs.
Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews directed the board to review this year's results following the row about students being awarded lower grades than expected last month.
The exam board is obliged to publish the results by 5pm.
– WJEC spokespersonThe re-grading direction applies specifically to those candidates on the C/D grade boundary. However, there will be some consequential impact on other grades, which are determined by an arithmetic relationship to the C/D boundary.
No Welsh GCSE replacement decision until December
Following the decision by Westminister to replace the GCSEs in England, the Welsh Government says it won't rush into a decision here.
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