GCSE grade changes at fault for results drop, say heads

HEAD teachers have blamed last-minute changes of grade boundaries by exam boards for a drop in GCSE achievement last year.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Feb 2013, 15:00 BST

Figures released for last summer’s exams show a number of schools in Worthing, Arun and Adur recorded fewer students achieving the gold standard of five A*-C grades, including maths and science.

In some cases, the drop was as high as 23 per cent on 2011 figures.

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The lowest in the area was Chatsmore Catholic High School, where just 43 per cent of students made the grade.

Head teacher Michael Madden slammed the decision of exam boards to raise the grade boundaries in some subjects just two weeks before releasing the results.

Mr Madden said he was left “disappointed” by the move, which meant many students on the C/D borderline ended up with the lower grade.

For the full story, including league tables, see the Herald and Gazette, out Thursday, February 14.