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| Andrews dismisses GCSE re-grading order 'incompetent' claim | Andrews dismisses GCSE re-grading order 'incompetent' claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Education Minister Leighton Andrews has dismissed claims the Welsh government was "authoritarian and incompetent" over the re-grading of exam papers in 2012. | Former Education Minister Leighton Andrews has dismissed claims the Welsh government was "authoritarian and incompetent" over the re-grading of exam papers in 2012. |
| Nearly 2,400 English language pupils got better results after the review. | Nearly 2,400 English language pupils got better results after the review. |
| Ex WJEC acting chair David Lewis said Mr Andrews dismissed advice about the complexities re-grading would cause. | |
| Mr Andrews said Mr Lewis' comments demonstrated the necessity for the WJEC governance to change. | Mr Andrews said Mr Lewis' comments demonstrated the necessity for the WJEC governance to change. |
| The row over the English exams broke out in 2012 as GCSE results were published for pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The row over the English exams broke out in 2012 as GCSE results were published for pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Mr Andrews claimed pupils in Wales were the victims of an "injustice" after receiving lower grades than expected following a shift in grade boundaries. | Mr Andrews claimed pupils in Wales were the victims of an "injustice" after receiving lower grades than expected following a shift in grade boundaries. |
| After the re-grading ordered by Mr Andrews, 1,202 students had grades increased from a D to a C and 598 from a C to a B grade. | After the re-grading ordered by Mr Andrews, 1,202 students had grades increased from a D to a C and 598 from a C to a B grade. |
| Lowering boundaries also meant some changes at other grades. This resulted in an overall figure of 2,386 receiving raised grades. | Lowering boundaries also meant some changes at other grades. This resulted in an overall figure of 2,386 receiving raised grades. |
| Mr Lewis, who became acting chair of the WJEC after the re-grading row, has spoken out to say it was clear to him that Mr Andrews dismissed any advice about the logistical problems it created for the exam-awarding body. | Mr Lewis, who became acting chair of the WJEC after the re-grading row, has spoken out to say it was clear to him that Mr Andrews dismissed any advice about the logistical problems it created for the exam-awarding body. |
| Mr Lewis wrote to First Minister Carwyn Jones outlining his concerns about the WJEC and its relationship with the Welsh government. | Mr Lewis wrote to First Minister Carwyn Jones outlining his concerns about the WJEC and its relationship with the Welsh government. |
| BBC Wales has seen a copy of the reply given to Mr Lewis. | BBC Wales has seen a copy of the reply given to Mr Lewis. |
| In it, Mr Jones says: "The Welsh government has had a long-standing and multi-facetted relationship with the WJEC and I acknowledge that, in some areas, this relationship has recently gone through a difficult period." | In it, Mr Jones says: "The Welsh government has had a long-standing and multi-facetted relationship with the WJEC and I acknowledge that, in some areas, this relationship has recently gone through a difficult period." |
| Mr Jones did not accept Mr Lewis's version of events but went on to say: "I have asked the Welsh government's director general for education, Owen Evans, to consider whether there are any lessons that officials here can learn from your letter." | Mr Jones did not accept Mr Lewis's version of events but went on to say: "I have asked the Welsh government's director general for education, Owen Evans, to consider whether there are any lessons that officials here can learn from your letter." |
| When asked to describe the conduct of the Welsh government, Mr Lewis, a Neath Port Talbot councillor, told BBC Wales: "There's one word, and that's authoritarian. | When asked to describe the conduct of the Welsh government, Mr Lewis, a Neath Port Talbot councillor, told BBC Wales: "There's one word, and that's authoritarian. |
| "And without necessarily, in terms of what we experienced, evidence of a full grasp of what the real issues were. Now that's a damning thing to say, but that's the way it came over. | "And without necessarily, in terms of what we experienced, evidence of a full grasp of what the real issues were. Now that's a damning thing to say, but that's the way it came over. |
| "The Welsh government were the incompetents in all this from our point of view." | "The Welsh government were the incompetents in all this from our point of view." |
| Mr Andrews rebutted the allegations. In a statement to BBC Wales, he said: "These comments are ludicrous. | Mr Andrews rebutted the allegations. In a statement to BBC Wales, he said: "These comments are ludicrous. |
| "The decision to re-grade GCSE English was taken following a full regulatory review and was welcomed by all parties. | "The decision to re-grade GCSE English was taken following a full regulatory review and was welcomed by all parties. |
| "Sadly, too many WJEC board members became hung up on minor points of process rather than the fundamental issue of principle, which was fairness to Welsh students." | "Sadly, too many WJEC board members became hung up on minor points of process rather than the fundamental issue of principle, which was fairness to Welsh students." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Wales on Thursday, Mr Andrews added: "I think Councillor Lewis's comments illustrate why it was so necessary for the governance structure of the WJEC to be reformed and I want to congratulate local government leaders in Wales who've taken a grip now of the situation and reformed the governance structure of the WJEC. | Speaking on BBC Radio Wales on Thursday, Mr Andrews added: "I think Councillor Lewis's comments illustrate why it was so necessary for the governance structure of the WJEC to be reformed and I want to congratulate local government leaders in Wales who've taken a grip now of the situation and reformed the governance structure of the WJEC. |
| "I'm afraid the WJEC clearly wasn't used to being regulated and the reality is, I think, the WJEC governing body thought it could exist in a cosy little world in which it would have a word on the quiet with the Welsh government and things would be dealt with to their satisfaction." | "I'm afraid the WJEC clearly wasn't used to being regulated and the reality is, I think, the WJEC governing body thought it could exist in a cosy little world in which it would have a word on the quiet with the Welsh government and things would be dealt with to their satisfaction." |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said: "These allegations from David Lewis are baffling. | A Welsh government spokesperson said: "These allegations from David Lewis are baffling. |
| "The actions we took last summer in relation to GCSE English language were based on evidence in a full report from regulatory officials. | "The actions we took last summer in relation to GCSE English language were based on evidence in a full report from regulatory officials. |
| "They were wholly appropriate, well supported and most importantly they led to the swift and fair resolution of an injustice served to well over 2,000 Welsh candidates." | "They were wholly appropriate, well supported and most importantly they led to the swift and fair resolution of an injustice served to well over 2,000 Welsh candidates." |
| The WJEC said it had experienced "a range of difficulties" arising from the Welsh government's approach to policy. | The WJEC said it had experienced "a range of difficulties" arising from the Welsh government's approach to policy. |
| A spokeswoman said: "WJEC's board remained very clear in terms of its own responsibilities in relation to qualifications standards and the development of new qualifications for Wales and for England." | A spokeswoman said: "WJEC's board remained very clear in terms of its own responsibilities in relation to qualifications standards and the development of new qualifications for Wales and for England." |
| She added a meeting with current Education Minister Huw Lewis on Wednesday had "provided the basis for a clear understanding of how the qualifications agenda in Wales can be progressed successfully". | She added a meeting with current Education Minister Huw Lewis on Wednesday had "provided the basis for a clear understanding of how the qualifications agenda in Wales can be progressed successfully". |