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Original poster

League Tables using Grade 5 as a "pass" for GCSE?

115 replies

Boyskeepswinging · 24/01/2019 14:50

Why do the league tables published today report on the percentage of children achieving Grade 5 in English and Maths?
I thought that most universities, colleges etc class a Grade 4 as a pass, not a 5?

OP posts:
Original poster
Boyskeepswinging · 24/01/2019 16:43

A 6 is equivalent to a B grade
But most universities appear to consider a 5 equivalent to a B grade. There is no consistency.

The whole thing is a right royal pain
Could not agree more and I don't think these league tables have helped one iota.

OP posts:
Musmerian · 24/01/2019 16:38

I am a secondary school teacher. Initially after the reforms to GCSE 5 was going to be the C equivalent. The government then changed the goalposts just before the first set of exams. A 4 is an equivalent C pass but not a good pass. A 6 is equivalent to a B grade. A 5 is a high C equivalent. The whole thing is a right royal pain.

PenguinPandas · 24/01/2019 16:30

now should be no

PenguinPandas · 24/01/2019 16:30

DD doesn't want to do Ebacc either as wants two languages and now humanities. Just found out RE is compulsory at her school, not happy. Can see battles looming. Though DD told me she wanted me to teach her how to argue as she says I always win. Grin

southnownorth · 24/01/2019 16:26

Maybe it is increasing to a 5 this year then?

My dd took them last summer and it was a level 4 and above and no retake was needed.

PostNotInHaste · 24/01/2019 16:21

I thought I read that at first 4 would be a pass then it would be increasing to a 5.

Original poster
Boyskeepswinging · 24/01/2019 16:19

Cynically I guess there aren’t the resources available for all those getting level 4 to retake!
But why do they have to retake when universities class a 4 as a pass?

OP posts:
Darkbaptism · 24/01/2019 16:15

Cynically I guess there aren’t the resources available for all those getting level 4 to retake!

Original poster
Boyskeepswinging · 24/01/2019 16:08

I think that when the new GCSE grading was announced 5 was a pass then it was realised that wasn’t attainable for some so made 4 a pass
Yeh, I can believe this but then why continue to report on Grade 5?

OP posts:
Original poster
Boyskeepswinging · 24/01/2019 16:02

Pandas DO NOT get me started on the EBacc thing. I had to fight tooth and nail for the school to allow my DS to take the GCSEs he wanted to do because they don't qualify for the EBacc. But for the course he wants to do at uni and his future career they are perfect Confused
While I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, does all this have a nasty whiff of Gove about it?

OP posts:
Darkbaptism · 24/01/2019 16:02

I think that when the new GCSE grading was announced 5 was a pass then it was realised that wasn’t attainable for some so made 4 a pass.

PenguinPandas · 24/01/2019 15:57

I saw grade 4 and grade 5 is ours and was quite interesting to see difference. I don't like the Ebacc thing though so you don't count if you don't do that. Our school has gone down from well above to above on progress 8 but its interesting its looks like its all the boys results and girls results are holding up.

southnownorth · 24/01/2019 15:54

It is very confusing, my dd had to get a 4 to be able to do the courses she wanted to do at college, that was considered a pass?

Original poster
Boyskeepswinging · 24/01/2019 15:34

The league table states that: Grade 5 in the new grading is a similar level of achievement to a high grade C or low grade B in the old grading so it admits itself it is basing the numbers on non-equivalent grades.

My understanding is that a Grade 4 is equivalent to a old C grade so why don't the league tables report on this?

I'm with you, One, it's hard to understand what is happening in the schools with these percentages.

OP posts:
onemouseplace · 24/01/2019 14:57

I'm confused about this as well - what is a Grade 5 in old money? A low B/ High C?

It just makes our local options look terrible to be honest.

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