Commenting on the regulators’ final report into this year’s errors on examination papers, Dr Jim Sinclair, Director of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said:
“It is reassuring that the regulators’ investigation has found that candidates got the right grades and that awarding organisations’ processes for producing question papers are essentially sound and meet the current regulatory requirements.
“As the report highlights, there are areas for improvement and awarding organisations have been looking carefully at their systems and implementing changes where needed. They will continue to review their processes in light of the report’s recommendations and have issued their own statements, which can be found on their websites.
“The examinations system is huge, with awarding bodies setting over 60,000 examination questions and over 50,000 examiners marking over 25 million separate examination scripts. Although the number of errors was small, it is clear there were too many and this is regretted by the awarding bodies.
“Awarding bodies are committed to creating a system that is world-class, in which everyone has confidence, and that meets the needs of learners, higher education, and employers. They will continue to work closely with the regulators (Ofqual, DfES and CCEA) and other organisations to realise this aim."
Notes to editors
• The regulators’ report can be found on Ofqual's website here.
• The JCQ is the single voice of member awarding bodies and comprises AQA, CCEA, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, SQA and WJEC – the seven largest providers of qualifications in the UK offering GCSE, GCE, AEA, Entry Level, Vocational and vocationally-related qualifications.
21 December 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Commenting on recent coverage in the Daily Telegraph, Dr Jim Sinclair, Director of the Joint Council for Qualifications said:
“Awarding bodies take very seriously the issues raised by the Daily Telegraph.
“All JCQ members are committed to delivering a world-class examination system that everyone, both in the UK and overseas, can have confidence in.
“As such, awarding bodies are looking carefully at the evidence, reviewing their own procedures where needed and supporting Ofqual in its investigation. You can find further details of their actions, including statements, on their websites.
“As well as designing syllabuses, writing examination questions, marking and grading qualifications, awarding bodies host events, provide online resources and approve the content of text books to support teachers in delivering the qualification.
“The training events highlighted in the media reports are an important part of a large examination system and all teachers delivering an awarding body’s qualification are encouraged to attend.
“These events and materials help to create a transparent examination system and ensure awarding bodies adhere to the regulations which state that they must provide access to regular advice and guidance.
“The question of standards is raised regularly and awarding bodies understand the need to have an examination system in which everyone can have confidence.
“Standards in qualifications are under the close scrutiny of the regulators (Ofqual, DfES and CCEA) whose role it is to ensure standards are maintained.”
13 December 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Commenting on the Enquiries About Results statistics published today by Ofqual, Dr Jim Sinclair, Director of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said:
“Awarding bodies are committed to providing an examination system that is accurate and provides candidates with the grades they deserve. Although the slight increase in the number of grade changes this year is disappointing, when looking at the scale of the system and considering the 2.5m GCE and 5.8 m GCSE qualifications awarded, the figures remain relatively small. For example, the percentage of GCSE awards where a grade changed following an enquiry rose 0.05 percentage points to 0.45%. For GCE, the rise was 0.01 percentage points to 0.48%.
“As the regulators’ report highlights, there are several external factors that may have impacted on the rise in enquiries this year. 2011 was the first year of awarding modular GCSEs, which resulted in a 61% increase in the number of unit entries, and controlled assessments. This year also saw the rush to secure university places before a rise in fees in 2012.
“An appeals process is an essential part of a transparent and accountable examinations system. Awarding bodies will continue to review their processes and work closely with the regulators to identify improvements and raise confidence in the system.”
Ofqual’s statistics can be found here.
7 December 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Commenting on Ofqual’s interim report on the exam paper errors, Dr Jim Sinclair, Director of JCQ, said:
“Awarding bodies welcome Ofqual’s interim report and they look forward to the full report and recommendations being published in December.
“It is clear that this year saw too many major errors appearing on examination papers. This is deeply regretted by awarding bodies. But, as the interim report highlights, awarding bodies were able to react swiftly to ensure students were not unfairly disadvantaged or advantaged.
“Awarding bodies’ own investigations into the errors had found that there was no systemic failure of the examination system. However, areas for improvement were identified and over the past few months a series of reforms have been implemented, with more to come, so that everyone can be confident that our examination system is world-class.
“Over the coming weeks, awarding bodies will continue to work closely with Ofqual to support their inquiry.”
Ofqual's report can be found here.
31 October 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ofqual have released a statement regarding their consultation on GCSE reform. This can be found here.
A link is included in the statement for those who wish to participate in this consultation.
28 September 2011
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Awarding bodies' internal investigations into exam errors show no systemic failure
Today, awarding bodies have published the findings of their own investigations into this year’s GCSE and A level examination paper errors. On behalf of the awarding bodies that had errors in their examination papers, the Joint Council for Qualifications has issued the following statement.
Dr Jim Sinclair, Director of JCQ, said:
“Awarding bodies deeply regret the errors that occurred on examination papers this summer and apologise to all students who were affected. Once these major errors had been identified, steps were taken to ensure that no-one was disadvantaged and that every student got the grade they deserved.
“Today’s publication of the findings of the investigations shows there was no systemic failure of the exam system. The number of major errors reported in 2011 represents an unusual cluster of unrelated errors appearing in one year. As the awarding bodies have detailed, there is a separate explanation for each individual error.
“The findings highlight that although there are areas in which awarding bodies can make improvements to their own processes to minimise the risk of mistakes, the system itself operates to a very high standard with an extremely high level of accuracy.
“The examinations system is huge, with over 50,000 examiners marking over 25 million separate examination scripts. This year, awarding bodies set over 60,000 examination questions, of which thirteen contained major errors. Although each is regretted and awarding bodies have zero tolerance for errors, in any system that requires human judgement and input there remains a possibility of an error occurring.
“Awarding bodies are now acting on their findings. The steps they are taking over the weeks and months ahead will make their processes even better and help restore confidence in the examination system.
"Awarding bodies will continue to work closely with Ofqual on its inquiry into this year's errors on examination papers. They have provided Ofqual with the findings of their investigations which will help it with its own inquiry."
Details of the investigations can be found on the awarding bodies’ websites:
The JCQ is the single voice of member awarding bodies and comprises AQA, CCEA, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, SQA and WJEC – the seven largest providers of qualifications in the UK offering GCSE, GCE, AEA, Entry Level, Vocational and vocationally-related qualifications.
16 September 2011
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For further information please contact Michael Turner on
0207 638 4132 / 07912774929.