Education Secretary Justine Greening’s GCSE reforms slammed by critics for ‘dumbing down standards’

EDUCATION Secretary Justine Greening was accused of dumbing down plans to boost standards after she announced a lower GCSE grade would still count as a pass.

Previously students sitting exams this year had to get a grade 5 to achieve a pass - the old equivalent of a C.

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But Ms Greening announced yesterday a lower grade 4 would be the “standard” pass grade.

Last night a senior Whitehall source said: “This looks like a U turn on the Government’s drive to improve standards for all just at the moment post Brexit when our students need to be more highly skilled than ever before.”

Previously ministers had said in order to pass GCSE pupils would need to achieve a grade 5 – considered a high C or lo B grade.

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Numerical grades of 1-9 are being phased in to replace A*-G grades this year starting with English language, literature and maths exams.

In a letter to the Education Select Committee chair, Ms Greening said a pass would now be set at a grade 4 – the equivalent of a C grade.

Teachers had voiced concerns pupils may have to resit maths and English of they failed to get a “good” grade 5 pass.

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But Ms Greening said yesterday: “I want to provide certainty about how this new grading will work and, in particular, the consequences for individual pupils of achieving a grade 4 or grade 5.

“Rather than reporting on the ‘good pass’, we will instead distinguish between a grade 4 as a ‘standard pass’ and a grade 5 as a ‘strong pass’ and report on both.

“Therefore, a GCSE pass at new grade 4 will continue to have real currency for individual pupils as they progress to further study and employment.

“Where employers, FE providers and universities currently accept a grade C we would expect them to continue recognising a grade 4.”

Last night Education Select Committee chairman and Tory MP Neil Carmichael welcomed the move saying it provided “clarity”for teachers, parents and pupils.