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| GCSE and A-level results changed for 45,500 on appeal | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 45,000 exam grades from this summer have been changed after schools challenged the results, up by 15%. | |
| The number of inquiries questioning GCSE and A-level grades rose even more sharply, up by 48% to 450,500, according to exam watchdog Ofqual. | |
| "Every such change has a big impact on the individuals affected," said education minister Nick Gibb. | "Every such change has a big impact on the individuals affected," said education minister Nick Gibb. |
| "There is a growing lack of confidence in the exam system," said head teachers' leader Brian Lightman. | "There is a growing lack of confidence in the exam system," said head teachers' leader Brian Lightman. |
| School leaders have voiced concerns about the quality of marking this summer - and the figures from Ofqual, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, show a big increase in inquiries to the "review of marking service", up by 56% to almost 444,000. | |
| Overall, about one in every 33 scripts marked this year resulted in an inquiry about marking or grades. | Overall, about one in every 33 scripts marked this year resulted in an inquiry about marking or grades. |
| Marking complaints | Marking complaints |
| If schools and parents are not satisfied by the response to this inquiry, they can make a further appeal, and about one in five of these challenges resulted in a grade being changed. | If schools and parents are not satisfied by the response to this inquiry, they can make a further appeal, and about one in five of these challenges resulted in a grade being changed. |
| This meant 45,500 grades have been corrected - up by 15% compared with the results of summer 2013. It represents a much bigger increase over the last few years - about 50% more grade changes than 2011. | |
| "We're not surprised to hear that there has been a significant increase in requests for re-marks. Many schools have told us of a worrying number of results which simply did not reflect how well students should have done," said Mr Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. | "We're not surprised to hear that there has been a significant increase in requests for re-marks. Many schools have told us of a worrying number of results which simply did not reflect how well students should have done," said Mr Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. |
| "Schools need to be able to trust the marks given to students. They need to know that examinations will be marked accurately, fairly and in a timely manner." | "Schools need to be able to trust the marks given to students. They need to know that examinations will be marked accurately, fairly and in a timely manner." |
| Mr Lightman said it remained unclear whether the increase in appeals is due to a "fundamental weaknesses in marking". | Mr Lightman said it remained unclear whether the increase in appeals is due to a "fundamental weaknesses in marking". |
| But he warned that the "lack of confidence in the exam system which has been exacerbated by frequent and ad hoc changes to qualifications". | But he warned that the "lack of confidence in the exam system which has been exacerbated by frequent and ad hoc changes to qualifications". |
| The overall proportion of exam grades being changed remains low, but has increased for both A-levels and GCSEs. This year, 0.52% of GCSE grades and 0.65% of A-level grades have been changed. | |
| Education Minister Nick Gibb said: "It is essential that students can be confident that their hard work will be accurately assessed and the exams they sit properly marked. | Education Minister Nick Gibb said: "It is essential that students can be confident that their hard work will be accurately assessed and the exams they sit properly marked. |
| "Parents, pupils and schools must have faith in exam marking and we are working closely with Ofqual and the exam boards to ensure this is the case." | "Parents, pupils and schools must have faith in exam marking and we are working closely with Ofqual and the exam boards to ensure this is the case." |