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Tories plan exam standards checks Tories plan exam standards checks
(about 4 hours later)
The Conservative Party is promising to link exams in England to an international benchmark to ensure standards are maintained.The Conservative Party is promising to link exams in England to an international benchmark to ensure standards are maintained.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove says the move would "reverse the devaluation of exams".Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove says the move would "reverse the devaluation of exams".
He will say the watchdog Ofqual would be given a statutory duty to guarantee exams and pass marks were comparable with the world's best.He will say the watchdog Ofqual would be given a statutory duty to guarantee exams and pass marks were comparable with the world's best.
The government said the UK already had an internationally renowned curriculum.The government said the UK already had an internationally renowned curriculum.
Ofqual said it "strongly believed" it should have powers to direct exam boards if it felt standards were at risk.Ofqual said it "strongly believed" it should have powers to direct exam boards if it felt standards were at risk.
The Tories noted the way that Ofqual instructed one of the big English exam boards, AQA, to lower the grade C pass mark in one of its science GCSEs this summer to bring it into line with other boards.The Tories noted the way that Ofqual instructed one of the big English exam boards, AQA, to lower the grade C pass mark in one of its science GCSEs this summer to bring it into line with other boards.
AQA chief executive Mike Cresswell reluctantly agreed to do so "on balance and under protest".AQA chief executive Mike Cresswell reluctantly agreed to do so "on balance and under protest".
But he said: "Ofqual needs to be given an explicit statutory power to enable it, if necessary, to direct an awarding body to set standards at a particular level."But he said: "Ofqual needs to be given an explicit statutory power to enable it, if necessary, to direct an awarding body to set standards at a particular level."
He said: "It needs to have this power so that it can give credible public assurance that standards are comparable between awarding bodies and maintained over time."He said: "It needs to have this power so that it can give credible public assurance that standards are comparable between awarding bodies and maintained over time."
'Bullied''Bullied'
Mr Gove plans to say in a speech that the government claims to be taking action to guarantee exam standards and that it points to the creation of Ofqual as evidence for this.Mr Gove plans to say in a speech that the government claims to be taking action to guarantee exam standards and that it points to the creation of Ofqual as evidence for this.
"Ofqual's job is to uphold the integrity of our examination system and bolster confidence in the qualifications our children acquire," Mr Gove will say."Ofqual's job is to uphold the integrity of our examination system and bolster confidence in the qualifications our children acquire," Mr Gove will say.
"A worthy ambition to have been asked to fulfil just seven months ago. And one which Ofqual has already failed to achieve.""A worthy ambition to have been asked to fulfil just seven months ago. And one which Ofqual has already failed to achieve."
Its first significant intervention in the examination system had not been an injection of greater rigour, an upholding of standards or a defence of knowledge - but "the precise opposite".Its first significant intervention in the examination system had not been an injection of greater rigour, an upholding of standards or a defence of knowledge - but "the precise opposite".
He accused the regulator of having bullied one exam board - AQA - resulting in "a deliberate lowering of standards".He accused the regulator of having bullied one exam board - AQA - resulting in "a deliberate lowering of standards".
"As a result standards slipped, more candidates would get a pass which was worth less. In other words, Ofqual devalued the exam.""As a result standards slipped, more candidates would get a pass which was worth less. In other words, Ofqual devalued the exam."
Reliability inquiryReliability inquiry
Mr Gove says: "I regard it as simply unacceptable that the exam standards watchdog should be acting in this way.Mr Gove says: "I regard it as simply unacceptable that the exam standards watchdog should be acting in this way.
"And a future Conservative government would legislate to ensure this simply couldn't happen.""And a future Conservative government would legislate to ensure this simply couldn't happen."
Ofqual would be given the powers to uphold and defend robust grade boundaries and Conservative ministers would require it to use those powers to guarantee that exams and pass marks were comparable with the world's best.Ofqual would be given the powers to uphold and defend robust grade boundaries and Conservative ministers would require it to use those powers to guarantee that exams and pass marks were comparable with the world's best.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "We have an internationally renowned curriculum, assessment and qualifications system, and we shouldn't pretend otherwise.A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "We have an internationally renowned curriculum, assessment and qualifications system, and we shouldn't pretend otherwise.
"Ofqual will be given all the powers it needs in the forthcoming bill to continue to secure the standards of qualifications, tests and assessments.""Ofqual will be given all the powers it needs in the forthcoming bill to continue to secure the standards of qualifications, tests and assessments."
An Ofqual spokesman said: "We have confidence that the results this year reflect the real achievements of young people and that the standards have been maintained. An Ofqual spokeswoman said: "We have confidence that the results this year reflect the real achievements of young people and that the standards have been maintained."
"The regulator's reviews of standards over the past 20 years have shown that while the content of exams changes over time to ensure that qualifications remain relevant and engaging, there is no indication of an overall fall in exam standards." It was working with awarding bodies to look at the technical issues that had arisen this summer in relation to GCSE science.
The regulator has just embarked upon a reliability programme to debate questions such as how much error is acceptable in assessments. "As well as looking at past papers, science experts will be looking at candidates' work, particularly work awarded marks near a grade boundary, to ensure that the standard is secure. We will report on this work early in 2009."
Its two-year inquiry will involve a team of researchers looking at evidence of the consistency of assessments, while members of the public, including students, parents and employers, will be consulted to determine their perceptions. On the issue of international standards, Ofqual said England had world renowned qualifications.
"The issue of comparing qualifications is a complex one because all qualifications are different in terms of content and approach which makes direct comparisons difficult."