Conservatives name for papers to be re-marked after instructor spots downside with examination marking
Shadow Training Secretary Laura Trott (Picture: Getty)
Greater than 1,000 youngsters could have been given the mistaken grade for his or her maths GCSE final yr – hurting their probabilities of being accepted into sixth kinds or finding out maths a-levels. Conservatives at the moment are demanding the papers are re-marked, after the error was noticed by a instructor at London’s Michaela Group Faculty. Shadow Training Secretary Laura Trott stated: “Greater than 1,000 younger individuals missed a GCSE Maths grade by one mark. Some may now be compelled into pointless resits, whereas for others that grade decrease may have an effect on their life probabilities by way of no fault of their very own.”
Ofqual, the official exams watchdog, has additionally expressed concern about an examination final yr overseen by examination board Cambridge OCR. Query six, asking college students to supply the “error interval” for the width of an object, used a distinct method to earlier years – which meant it differed from the one pupils had been taught. In consequence, college students had been unable to provide the reply required, in accordance with maths instructor Brett Williams-Yale.
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He was shocked to find 1,609 pupils who took the examination nationwide missed a grade by only one mark. It suggests many tons of of pupils had been penalised due to the defective query.
Mr Williams-Yale stated: “There are greater than 1,000 youngsters on the market who’re one mark away from the following grade up. A few of them could have failed maths due to this. However they don’t know.
“Up to now, lecturers have understood the reply the examiners need, and in order that’s the reply we’ve taught the youngsters to place down.
“However final yr they modified the usual.”
Mr Williams-Yale’s issues had been confirmed after he submitted a grievance to regulator Ofqual. The watchdog dominated that the method taken on this query “is inconsistent with the method taken in different comparable questions”. And Ofqual stated: “This inconsistency raises issues concerning the readability of the evaluation and the extent to which candidates might be anticipated to interpret the necessities in a predictable and honest method.”
Ofqual is now contemplating whether or not additional motion is required.
Many college sixth kinds and faculties have minimal grade necessities for each maths and English to permit pupils to check A-levels, with greater necessities for science or maths topics.
Mr Williams-Yale stated: “There will probably be some kids who failed maths and needed to retake it, or can’t do the A-level mixtures they wish to do or the apprenticeship they needed to do, or missed out on a sixth kind place.”
Ms Trott has written to Ofqual warning that except new grades are awarded “there’s a threat not solely to confidence in a single examination sequence, however to belief within the integrity and equity of the {qualifications} system extra broadly”.
She stated: “That is about primary equity. Belief within the examination system issues. When a mistake is recognized, it’s only proper that it’s put proper and corrected. Ofqual has upheld the grievance, it isn’t acceptable for OCR to sit down again and do nothing.
“I’ve written to OCR requesting a gathering and urging them to assume once more and comment the papers. When a mistake has been recognized, doing nothing isn’t adequate.”
A Cambridge OCR spokesperson stated: “This query, which was the topic of 1 grievance from a single college, was written and marked based mostly on right arithmetic. Questions in 2017, 2019 and 2024 had been marked in the identical approach because the 2025 query with none grievance or concern from colleges.
“Our evaluation discovered the query efficiently assessed pupil capacity. Those that did higher on the examination total had been additionally extra prone to get this query proper. Claims that 1,000+ college students close to grade boundaries missed out due to this query are usually not backed by the information.
“It will not be honest or applicable to simply accept incorrect solutions to this 2025 query.”
A Division for Training spokesperson stated: “Ofqual, because the unbiased regulator, is liable for regulating examination boards, ensuring their {qualifications} are delivered persistently, and meet required requirements.
“Throughout your entire schooling system, this authorities is dedicated to delivering excessive and rising requirements for each little one, in order that they’ve the chance to realize and thrive – exams play a crucial function on this.”
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