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“Severe grading” at GCSE. Summary.
The outline proposal from ASCL, ALL and ISMLA is that
grading in GCSE ML should be brought broadly into line with that in Mathematics
(and thus also with other subjects such as Science, History and Geography).
Timeline:
·
Recommendation in Dearing Review (Mar ’07) to investigate and
establish facts at GCSE
·
Dr Robert Coe (
CEM
Durham
University
) (Mar ’07) presents at ASCL Annual Conference “Are some GCSEs harder than
others?)
·
Guardian article (12 Mar 2007) David
Willetts, Conservative education spokesman, said:
"If there is evidence modern languages is tougher than other GCSEs,
then that is something that has to be corrected. They should be the same level
of challenge as traditional academic GCSEs."
·
Alan Johnson asks (Jun ’07) the QCA to conduct a review and is
awaiting their advice on whether or not to change grade boundaries.
·
QCA report 'Grade standards in GCSE modern foreign languages'
published Feb ’08 accepts the reality of “severe grading” – see
paragraphs 11-15
para. 12
To test its practical application we asked AQA, Edexcel and OCR to
calculate what changes there would be to their 2007 GCSE French results if the
grades were based only on the relationship between candidates’ key stage 3
test scores and their results in GCSE mathematics. The analyses indicated that
the changes would be marked at the higher grades. About half the candidates
presently awarded a grade B would gain a grade A as the threshold mark or
performance standard for a grade A would have to move down by about half a grade
width. There would be a similar effect at grade C.
·
Ofqual hold their first Inter-subject comparability seminar (Oct
’08) with representatives from a range of organisations.
Presentations from ML, STEM and English subject representatives.
Issue of “severe grading” formally recognised, but different views
about “next steps”.