8th February 2010 9:00
By Blue Tutors
There is concern among schools throughout the country after the 2009 AS-level results, the BBC have reported. The concern regards ‘wide variations’ in the results, which were unexpected, and this follows the recent change in A-levels to make them more challenging, and add the extra A* grade.
Ofqual, the body that regulates qualifications in the UK, have insisted that they’re working to ensure that A-levels are fair for all learners. They did sound a warning ahead of the new style A-levels, stating that they present unique challenges, and are designed to test candidates more thoroughly than before.
There was a similar outcry in 2002 when A-levels were changed, and subsequently many grades were changed, but Ofqual have insisted that this is not on the same scale.
The solution suggested is that head teachers should sit in on the meetings of examination boards to decide on grade boundaries. This move has been widely welcomed by teachers, Ofqual, and the boards. It has happened before and works well, and will reassure teachers about the grades awarded each year.