Minister defends Wales exam grading system (From Free Press Series)
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Minister defends Wales exam grading system
10:20am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News
DEFENDED MOVE: Education minister Leighton Andrews
EDUCATION minister Leighton Andrews defended his decision to launch a GCSE grading system for Welsh pupils in the wake of the marking fiasco last summer.
The Welsh minister appeared before the House Commons yesterday after ordering a new system that could see different thresholds used by markers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Around 2,300 Welsh pupils had their papers regraded as a result of the English exam marking row last year.
England’s exam regulator, Ofqual, has declined to take similar action.
UK education secretary Michael Gove has criticised the Welsh decision to go it alone.
But Mr Andrews said he had acted in an “appropriate” manner, adding it was intended to address the “unfairness” in the way grade boundaries are set.
He added: “I think the jury’s out on three-country qualification.”
KarmaSuitsYa says...
4:23pm Wed 13 Mar 13
What's the difference between an OFSTED inspector and a plastic surgeon?
Well, the surgeon tucks features and the inspector f....
Seriously though all this talk and stress about GCSE's is just relieving oneself amidst a high-to-low pressure air movement. The simple fact of the matter is, all you boys and girls out there, that those grim pieces of paper you all wrench, screaming, from the guts of your tortured youths, don't mean a **** thing. (Sorry teachers, but it's true). I never took my exams, never even finished school, and not once in twenty five years has any employer ever questioned me about their absence on my CV. Not once. And I've been hired over university graduates many times.