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Exams crisis as 200,000 call for re-marks
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent18 Dec 2008
RECORD numbers of schools have sent their Sats papers back to be re-marked amid a dramatic loss of confidence in the exam system.
Last year 50,000 test grades were queried, but after this summer's marking fiasco the number has leapt to 200,000, with another 15,000 expected as headteachers demand an overhaul of the testing regime.
Kathleen Tattersall, chair of the Government's new exams watchdog Ofqual said the quality of Sats marking was "no worse" than in previous years.
But Mick Brookes of the National Association of Head Teachers said: "On the back of a four-fold increase in challenges, the statement that the marking is the same seems extraordinary."
The figures emerged after ministers apologised for the "shambles" that left 1.2 million pupils waiting for results after blunders by marking firm ETS Europe. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's chief Ken Boston and David Gee, boss of the National Assessment Agency have both been suspended pending investigations.
Reader views (2)
One of the changes from previous years was that in 2008 there was no "borderlining" - scripts that were close to a level boundary were not automatically reviewed by a second marker. (Improved marking by insisting that markers did an on-line "benchmarking test" after every 80 papers or so was supposed to make this second opinion check unnecessary.)
Schools may have disagreed !
- Tim, Hounslow, 18/12/2008 20:29
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Good job the Government is here to employ all of the half wits who can't hold down proper jobs. Exams are getting easier year on year and yet these idiots can't mark them properly. Boy do I feel confident in my daughter's future!
- Gareth, Farnborough, Hampshire, 18/12/2008 20:12
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