Exams

Private schools under investigation for gaming teacher grades

Exam boards are investigating malpractice at some independent schools after 'credible evidence' they over-inflated grades

Exam boards are investigating malpractice at some independent schools after 'credible evidence' they over-inflated grades

12 Oct 2022, 10:52

More from this author

Private schools are being investigated for malpractice after “credible evidence” some over-inflated teacher grades issued when exams were cancelled because of Covid.

Ofqual chief regulator Dr Jo Saxton told MPs this morning that individual private schools were being investigated by exam boards.

Top grades at private schools soared when exams were cancelled and replaced with teacher grades.

However, they plunged this year when exams returned – despite top grades for grammar schools, which also have more higher-attaining students, hardly falling.

While some experts suggested the data may support arguments that independent schools inflated last year’s grades, others urged caution on drawing conclusions.

Rob Halfon, chair of the education select committee, asked Saxton today whether this was evidence private schools “gamed the teacher assessed system”.

“Tempting as it is to make comparisons, it was a totally different form of assessment. That said, Ofqual takes all allegations of malpractice and cheating extremely seriously,” she said.

“We require the boards to investigate any credible evidence of malpractice and cheating. I know there are ongoing investigations.”

Pressed further at the hearing into this year’s exam results, Saxton clarified that there were individual cases of malpractice being investigated at private schools.

She said while exam boards run the investigation, Ofqual is tasked with monitoring them – so she was unable to comment further.

On the more broader issue of the difference in grades between private and state schools, Saxton said: “It’s one of reasons I was incredibly glad we could reinstate exams – it proves exams are the fairest form of assessment.

“It’s similar to the unfortunate issue we see with regions. There were differences in results in independent schools and other school types that existed prior to the pandemic.

“They were exacerbated without exams and we’ve seen the results from 2022 are closer to those that existed prior to the pandemic.”

More from this theme

Exams

‘Change on an unprecedented scale’: Ofqual responds to ABS plans

Qualifications reform risks more exams, 'unregulated' A-levels and students unprepared for higher study, says exams regulator

Freddie Whittaker
Exams

Hacking homework for exam breach suspect

A 16-year-old boy has been cautioned in connection with an exam board cyber attack

Samantha Booth
Exams

Deprived schools more likely to see progress 8 scores fall

Analysis comes as Covid impact and potential Labour changes may spell end to measure in its current form

Freddie Whittaker
Exams

Progress 8 pause: Heads call for wider review

But some heads have warned the sector could creep back to GCSE pass grades being the accountability 'king'

Samantha Booth
Exams

No school progress measure for next two years

The Department for Education had explored alternative options, but concluded there is 'no replacement' for progress 8 measure

Samantha Booth
Exams

Unions: ‘Clunky’ advanced British standard risks ‘blunt choice’ for pupils

Ministers accused of 'putting the cart before the horse' with 16-19 reform plans

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *