Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Wednesday 7th November 2012

As this e-petition has received more than 10 000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response:

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the independent regulator responsible for overseeing and maintaining standards in qualifications. Ofqual is conducting a review of the awarding of GCSEs in English, following the concerns expressed by many schools, parents and pupils about the setting of grade boundaries in these GCSEs in January and June this year.

Ofqual published an initial report of its findings on 31 August which is available at http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/news-and-announcements/130-news-and-announcements-press-releases/972-ofqual-report-on-gcse-english-results-finds-january-assessments-were-graded-generously.

The report found that examiners had acted properly and set the grade boundaries using their best professional judgment, taking into account all the evidence available to them. The June grade boundaries were properly set and candidates’ work properly graded.

Ofqual is now looking at why some schools, but not others, got the results they expected, and will produce a final report in October.

The Education Select Committee heard evidence on this matter from head teacher representatives, Ofqual and the Secretary of State on 11-12 September, and has asked further detailed questions of Ofqual. The Government has no plans to set up a full enquiry, given the on-going investigation by the independent regulator and the Select Committee’s interest.

This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100 000 signature threshold.