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Gove says exams in England, Wales and NI must split | Gove says exams in England, Wales and NI must split |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The UK education secretary has said it is time for Wales to go its separate way on GCSEs and A-levels. | The UK education secretary has said it is time for Wales to go its separate way on GCSEs and A-levels. |
Michael Gove says he believes the differences between Wales, England and Northern Ireland are driving a split. | Michael Gove says he believes the differences between Wales, England and Northern Ireland are driving a split. |
Last year Wales' Education Minister Leighton Andrews had 2,300 GCSEs re-graded. | Last year Wales' Education Minister Leighton Andrews had 2,300 GCSEs re-graded. |
A Welsh government spokesperson said: "Wales is keeping GCSEs and A-levels, as is Northern Ireland." | A Welsh government spokesperson said: "Wales is keeping GCSEs and A-levels, as is Northern Ireland." |
"We wish Mr Gove well with his plans to rename these qualifications in England." | "We wish Mr Gove well with his plans to rename these qualifications in England." |
In a letter to the education ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland, Mr Gove said the separation of GCSEs and A-levels between those countries and those in England is "a natural and legitimate consequence of devolution". | In a letter to the education ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland, Mr Gove said the separation of GCSEs and A-levels between those countries and those in England is "a natural and legitimate consequence of devolution". |
Mr Gove had talks with Mr Andrews and Northern Ireland's Education Minister John O'Dowd last week. | Mr Gove had talks with Mr Andrews and Northern Ireland's Education Minister John O'Dowd last week. |
His letter to them says "the time is right for us to acknowledge" the qualification systems in the three countries need to go their separate ways. | His letter to them says "the time is right for us to acknowledge" the qualification systems in the three countries need to go their separate ways. |
In a report in The Guardian newspaper, Whitehall sources accuse the Welsh government of being "determined to keep dumbing down" exam standards. | In a report in The Guardian newspaper, Whitehall sources accuse the Welsh government of being "determined to keep dumbing down" exam standards. |
On Twitter, Mr Andrews said the "meeting was cordial but the Whitehall source is just offensive - and it reads like it was someone in the meeting". | On Twitter, Mr Andrews said the "meeting was cordial but the Whitehall source is just offensive - and it reads like it was someone in the meeting". |
Referring to the Guardian article, Mr Andrews said: "And a week later Whitehall sources, quoting directly from a comment in the meeting, start being offensive again." | Referring to the Guardian article, Mr Andrews said: "And a week later Whitehall sources, quoting directly from a comment in the meeting, start being offensive again." |
"For the avoidance of doubt, Wales will continue to have GCSEs, A-levels and AS levels. So will Northern Ireland. I don't know about England." | "For the avoidance of doubt, Wales will continue to have GCSEs, A-levels and AS levels. So will Northern Ireland. I don't know about England." |
He added: "One of the benefits of devolution is that it allows England to be a laboratory for experiments." | He added: "One of the benefits of devolution is that it allows England to be a laboratory for experiments." |
Plaid Cymru called on the Welsh government to "take urgent steps to ensure confidence in the system". | |
Education spokesman Simon Thomas said an independent exams regulator for Wales should be created "as soon as possible to ensure confidence in the system and ensure standards do not fall." | |
Until now, Wales, England and Northern Ireland have shared qualifications and a three-country system of regulating exams. | Until now, Wales, England and Northern Ireland have shared qualifications and a three-country system of regulating exams. |
But a row over the grading of GCSE English papers in the summer of 2012 highlighted growing differences. | But a row over the grading of GCSE English papers in the summer of 2012 highlighted growing differences. |
Mr Andrews ordered a regrade after a review found the results had been "unfair" to pupils in Wales. | Mr Andrews ordered a regrade after a review found the results had been "unfair" to pupils in Wales. |
Appeals for a regrade in England were turned down by the exam regulator Ofqual. | Appeals for a regrade in England were turned down by the exam regulator Ofqual. |
In September 2012, Mr Gove announced a shake-up of exams in England. He proposed that GCSEs in England would be replaced in core subjects by a qualification called the English Baccalaureate Certificate. | In September 2012, Mr Gove announced a shake-up of exams in England. He proposed that GCSEs in England would be replaced in core subjects by a qualification called the English Baccalaureate Certificate. |
Mr Andrews and his Northern Ireland counterpart expressed their displeasure after Mr Gove made the announcement without consulting them. | Mr Andrews and his Northern Ireland counterpart expressed their displeasure after Mr Gove made the announcement without consulting them. |