The original design of new English GCSEs led to the problems in 2012, say MPs on the Education Committee in a report published today. The Committee calls on the Government, the regulator Ofqual, and others responsible for public examinations, to learn lessons from errors made during the time of the last government and ensure that such errors are not repeated by the Coalition.
“The turmoil surrounding last summer’s GCSE English results highlights the importance of carefully developing new sets of exams.
“A series of avoidable errors were made when the current GCSE English was being designed under the previous Government. Failures in the modular approach, and the moderation of internal assessments, led to a highly unsatisfactory level of confusion.
“When pursuing future reforms, it is crucial that ministers and Ofqual pay careful attention to expert opinion and don’t ignore warning voices. They must understand how much pressure schools and individual teachers are under to deliver results, and ensure that the exams children take are robust enough to withstand that pressure.
“We believe the current status of Ofqual, as an independent regulator accountable to Parliament, is the right one. However, the Coalition Government is bringing in wholesale changes to GCSEs and A levels, to a tight timetable and at the same time. Ofqual must have systems in place to anticipate problems, and be prepared to step in if it believes it necessary.
“Public confidence has taken a knock, as a result of GCSE English in 2012. Future reforms need to rebuild public trust, put children’s interests first and deliver truly world-class examinations.
“The Education Committee is also concerned that there is a rush towards separate exam systems for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, without careful reflection on what might be lost, or consensus that this is the right thing to do.”