JCQ and ofqual gcse grade warnings...

[nostress]

There was a news story a few weeks ago and again today (bbc eduation section and the times) warning about the results falling this year. Saying to governing bodies please dont sack heads! I'm very worried for my DS1! I'm just praying that he secured Cs and above.

Will it be because it's a private school? I dunno but I'm sure they said evening classes were the only option at the audition

'to be granted extra time dyslexics now have to have processing and working memories scores that are in the below average range'

the access arrangement of extra time requires at least one score of 84 or below in
speed of reading; or
speed of reading comprehension; or
speed of writing; or
cognitive processing measures which have a substantial and long term
adverse effect on speed of working (visual processing speed or phonological processing speed or working memory.

A single score in one of these areas is acceptable alongside evidence of usual way of working ( which is supposed to be held on file for inspection purposes for all pupils who have access arrangements).

Schools can make a paper application for pupils who do not have a below average score. A formal diagnosis of dyslexia can form part of the evidence, and school must provide firm evidence that extra time is the pupil's usual way of working within the classroom and that without the allocation of extra time the pupil will be seriously disadvantaged within an exam situation.

As part of the formal diagnosis a Ed Psych will have performed the relevant assessments for the speed/processing. I think it would be very unusual for a reputable practitioner to feel able to state they need extra time without one of those scores being below 84. It certainly isn't as subjective as it once was. Also bearing in mind that SpLDs can overlap so one could mask the symptoms of another ie. ds is dyspraxic but has some dyslexic traits. His last set of scores were borderline to qualify and it was felt his subsequent progress in other areas would mean any further assessment would probably not prove his "need". Saying no child with SpLD should be capable of A* is ludicrous .

Reports that grade boundaries are to be lowered:

schoolsimprovement.net/gcse-boundaries-lowered-to-avoid-gove-effect/

I really feel for this cohort!

The hybrid GCSE of a-bit-like-the-old-modular-and-a-bit-like-the-new-linear is a complete fuck up.

It will result in depressed results. And now they're throwing grade boundary lowering into the mix.

It's going to leave the 2014 cohort at sea that's for sure.

I was trying to keep positive but all this is beginning to sound like a complete nightmare.

It really doesn't matter what grades DC achieve providing a single cohort is held to the same rigorous, reliable and comparable standards.

In theory, that's right Bonsoir but in reality, many employers, colleges, universities are not going to lower their basic requirements for this cohort.

And these basic requirements have been standing for some time...

Colleges, universities, employers are all used to recruiting students/candidates with a huge variety of qualifications! It is somewhat patronising to suggest that this widely publicised and understood change to GCSEs that, crucially, has been pushed for by universities themselves in order to make the exam system more reliable, will be ignored.

Bonsoir, these aren't the new GCSEs with the different grades to distinguish them from the old ones. These are a complete bodge and no one understands how grades will be affected. Given that Ofqual have had to give an official warning that the grades will be not as expected, so that governors don't go sacking heads over poor results, I think it's safe to say that this year's results will be very difficult to interpret.

Given that in recent years girls have out-performed boys at gcse level but are often reported as benefiting from the modular exams it will be interesting if these changes have closed the gender gap somewhat this year

Girls have ALWAYS out performed boys when they have been given he opportunity to study/sit the exams.

In the days of the 11 plus being national (1950s) girls had to get a higher score to get their grammar school place.

Back on topic

I can see a resurgence of consolidation courses at FE colleges. For those who don't remember it was a 1 year course in the days of O Levels for people to resit and obtain he magic 5 A-C grades.

widely publicised and understood change to GCSEs

And if you're talking about the new GCSEs for first sitting in 2017, you're having a laugh if you think the changes are widely understood. They can't be, because a lot of them haven't even been published yet. The latest thing is that all the draft GCSE specs from the exam boards for maths, which some schools will be starting teaching in September have been rejected by Ofqual and so it's back to the drawing board.

noblegiraffe - I know - it really doesn't matter. Universities and employers recruit candidates with no GCSEs at all, all the time. There are hundreds of possible qualifications out there!

Parents/DC are more worried about losing the status symbol effect of a string of A*s than any real fears about access to education.

So you're saying that employers will be able to distinguish between GCSEs sat in different years and that students shouldn't be pissed off that they will have lower results compared to students from previous years despite being of equal ability and will have to preface any conversation about these results with "of course I sat them in 2014 which makes a difference"? It's all fine really?

Universities and employers recruit candidates with no GCSEs at all, all the time. Not any more they don't. While a first application in the next year or so might have some leeway , assuming the variation is recognised , in a few years' time employers will be comparing the results of candidates across many cohorts with no thought that "oh 2014 was different let's give them the benefit of the doubt!".

Yes of course. Given that anyone undertaking any form of recruitment uses multiple variables anyway. Recruiters are not as dim as all that!

LIZS - I have two O-levels (in English Language and French). No A-levels.

I have a first class degree from a good English university, an MBA from a world-ranking business school and worked for some extremely fussy employers. I know loads of young people with no GCSEs. It's not going to be an issue!

Sorry beg to disagree, 5 x A*-C is a benchmark being regularly applied in the FE/employment market in UK. There are equivalents (BTECS etc) and access courses etc but the govt has changed it so everyone is expected to gain L1/GCSE/L2 in English and Maths and must continue to study towards it, even alongside NVQs and apprenticeships. It is going to be very tough in future for those without this to progress.

I know loads of young people with no GCSEs. It's not going to be an issue!
Yeah right.
Sorry but employers use algorithms to sort applications.
If you cannot tick the box you will not get on the list.
THAT is why they are forcing retakes of maths and English through till 18

Kids without GCSEs will be condemned to NMW Zero hour work because there will be others who fit the mould better

Bonsoir I assuem you're talking about foreign children.

The reality is that for the vast majority of DC in the UK system, they are judged by their GCSEs.

So any young person who wants to access a course at college will have to have a C in English and Maths. A D will not cut it. And the college won't be in a position to change their policy and say 'oh well the 2014 cohort were in a difficult siuation, this year we'll change things.'

Similarly, to access the course at the university where I teach you will need an A* in that subject at GCSE. An A will not cut it. And I very much doubt my collegaues will change their policy for the 2014 cohort.

Yes, other applicants from other education systems won't need the GCSEs. But the vast majority of applicants are home grown so that really is of little interest to them...

Yes, it's not bright DCs going for university places and the main graduate recruiters who will be affected. Those organizations will know how the exam system works.

It's pupils trying to get into over subscribed collage courses and apprentiships. The poor sods who are automatically rejected for not having a C in English.

Yes, collages may try their best for students disadvantaged by the marking problems a year or two back and S&L this year, but they are massively oversubscribed and underfunded. Decent resit frame works are not in.place, students are going to fail to get the courses they deserve.

Elephants I think bright students headed towards the most competitive universities/courses may well be affected.

Many admissions tutors are well used to seeing reams of applications from students with sterling GCSEs.

I tink we may see some of the 2014 cohort priced out of that market so to speak, by their GCSEs.

Alternatively, we might see the increase of A* offers at A level as universities increasingly ignore GCSEs.

Bottlecat that was a bit disingenuous? The Jcq regs www.jcq.org.uk/Download/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/regulations-and-guidance/access-arrangements-and-reasonable-adjustments-2014-2015 Chapter 5 section 5.2.2 read "at least one below average standardised score of 84 or less." In exceptional circumstances two low average scores 85 to 89 may be considered and in "very rare and exceptional circumstances" a pupil who has no scores at 89 or less but with considerable evidence of a long term disability and it's impact.

In practise both school and the Dyslexia charity who advised us said that my DDs speed of writing at the tenth percentile ie 90% of the population would write more quickly, would be unlikely to get her extra time even with a very long term evidence of need going back to intervention at age 6 and formal diagnosis in year 4. There is a system that the exam officer submits the scores to as part of the process of applying for special arrangements, in the case of dyslexia if the working memory and processing scores are not in the below average range then a special case has to be made with an uncertain (I think the wording of the regs on that are fairly clearly discouraging) chance of success.

Why else would Ofqual be acknowledging when meeting the dyslexia charities, independent schools representative bodies and other interested bodies that their representations that the new regs were discriminatory against bright pupils were founded, basically they were collateral damage, and as rabbit highlighted, shouldn't be given A*s. <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.ofqual.gov.uk/how-we-regulate/90-articles/864-extra-time-in-qualification-examinations-and-assessments-for-learners-with-dyslexia-or-other-specific-learning-difficulties" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.ofqual.gov.uk/how-we-regulate/90-articles/864-extra-time-in-qualification-examinations-and-assessments-for-learners-with-dyslexia-or-other-specific-learning-difficulties

If your dd's speed of writing is assessed at being the 10th percentile that converts to a standardised score of 81, which would meet the current criteria for extra time alongside evidence of need/usual way of working provided by school.

No I'm not talking about foreign children.

It's crucial for parents and pupils to stop thinking of GCSEs as some kind of branding exercise and to understand the education and skills (or lack thereof...) underlying A* GCSE Maths (or whatever).