dramatic drops in higher GCSE and A-level results in England private schools this summer sparked accusations that they were “playing pranks” system last year when teachers gave grades.
Official data show proportion of GCSE from 7 to 9 points in private schools fell from 61.2% last year up to 53% is the year when students were required to take exams – 8.2 p.p. drop.
The difference was three times more than that of comprehensive, which saw a 2.7 percentage point decline from 26% last year up to 23.3% it year.
The pattern has been repeated with A-levels, where private schools saw more dramatic fall in Classes A*/A compared to other types of schools after reintroduction of public review after three years. Proportion of A*/A records in private schools fell from 70% in 2021 up 58% this summer. In high schools, A*/A grades dropped from 57% to 50%.
Some private middle and sixth grade colleges, where up to 90% of results got high marks from teachers last in the summer, the level of academic performance collapsed by 25-30 percent points.
Robert Halfon, Conservative Chairman of This was stated by the committee for the choice of education. years results showed private sector “milked system for it was all worth” in pandemic.
“These differences show how vital exams. decision try to eliminate valuation inflation and protect the currency of this qualification is right one. We need go back to integrity of 2019 class profiles. Seems like the independent sector milked the school grade system for it was all worth. That’s why Ofkual’s plan to reign in overestimation is right one”.
In an effort avoid debunking valuation inflation last yearSome schools that usually publicized success retain their full results secret. The Conference of Directors and Headmistresses (HMC), which represents leading independent schools, advised its members against publication of the entire cohort results to “prevent useless comparisons between GCSE and A-level results this is year and prior years in which either different valuation methods or different standards were used.”
Critics said the schools that manipulated system grades lower than teacher grades widened the educational gap between working-class and non-working class students. more rich backgrounds. They blamed government of allowing free grade increases in some schools last year. This summer Ofqual set national Exams pass signs to curb in adjust inflation to 2019 levels.
Bridget Phillipson, Labor’s shadow education secretary, said: “Some private schools gaming in system and there is no transparency. Labor is called for investigation last year estimates, but ministers were happy to let inequality grow.
“It is important that there is a level playing field for all students, but conservatives presided over yawning gap in achievement between the state and private schoolchildren, the number of which has increased since 2019. Workers will cancel tax breaks for private schools to fund a brilliant public education for every child”.
One analysis of Level results Education Datalab concluded that the statement that private schools “played” results was “a little harsh.” He said that while the absolute difference in percentages of A*/A grades in 2022 compared to 2021 showed one of largest decline in independent schools in relative terms, privately educated students accounted for about 20% more likely to receive an A/A* rating in 2021 than in 2022 but it was the same true for students of academies, secondary schools and secondary modern schools.
Barnaby Lenon, Chairman of The Independent School Board stated, “In the last year, teacher graded grades have been subject to rigorous quality control. Exam boards found no evidence to suggest any type of school or institute more probably gave grades that did not reflect standard of their students work”.
HMC declined to comment.
