Surely this is discrimination / illegal?

[ThimbleThimble]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/15/a-levels-gcse-grade-inflation-covid-uk-england-lower/

TLDR: children sitting exams in Wales will get higher marks (via lower grade boundaries) this year than children sitting the same exam in England.

I don't see how that can be legal? It's discriminatory isn't it?

Can anyone explain why this is being allowed?

Wales is a different country to England.

That's why it is allowed.

Next you are going to complain that Scotland has highers...

I don't see how this can be stated definitively, Grade boundaries fluctuate each year, after marking,

Wales is a different country with its own laws. If you’re unhappy about that take it up with Tony Blair. But it is what it is, I can’t get het up about every instance of different rules in different countries.

I accept that Scotland has Highers, but as far as I'm aware in Wales they don't sit different papers. The issue I'm wondering about is how can it be fair that a child sitting a paper in England can achieve the same mark but get a lower grade than a child that sat the exact same paper in Wales?

Wales has it's own education board. Education is devolved so yes, as far as education is concerned, Wales is a different country and it's nonsensical to compare like for like.

Like everyone else has said - England and Wales are different countries. Education is devolved and the Welsh can do what they like as far as education is concerned.

@Valour OK so this makes more sense. Does this mean that they sit different papers? The article suggests it's the same papers.

You may think it's unfair and of course you are entitled to your opinion, but that is not the question you asked. In your op you asked how it could be legal and why it was allowed. As all the pp have said, it is entirely legal because Wales and England are different countries and education is devolved.

Different papers.

The Welsh Board (as they are known) offer qualifications as WJEC in Wales that are regulated by Welsh authorities and as Eduqas in England that follow English regulations.

Welsh and English GCSEs and A Levels diverged after the qualification reform in the mid 2010s.

Thanks @Takoneko. Very helpful. 🙂

I accept that Scotland has Highers, but as far as I'm aware in Wales they don't sit different papers.

Well you'd be wrong there.

I accept that Scotland has Highers, but as far as I'm aware in Wales they don't sit different papers

The WJEC papers were different from English ones back in the 1970s. England had more than one set of exam boards back then too.

I understand that they are different counties and education is devolved but are they still GCSEs? As surely an employer won’t know that they were Welsh or English exams, they will just see the result?

Im not sure if it matters, I’m very tired today.

Countries of course.

Welsh GCSEs are still A* to G if that helps you understand the differences.

Wales often.had WJEC exam board and each exam board has different grade boundaries based on the children sitting in that cohort. There are different grade boundaries each year with the same exam board. That's just the way it is.

Well the fact that they still use A to G grades will be a clue!

Welsh GCSE's are totally different to English as is the whole curriculum and grading system.

I think A levels are still coupled with AS as well with WJEC.

I couldn’t read the article but thanks for that.

I still think that lots of employers would not distinguish between the grades though and will just see GCSE. I’m not sure I actually care much, was just wondering really.

Yes, thanks so much.

If they don’t look at or compare the grades then it will make no difference whatsoever if Welsh students have marginally more lenient grades, surely?

I mean knowing that A-G means Welsh and 1-9 means English. They are both called GSCE - it’s obvious that Highers for example are a different exam.