Press Release

Ofqual Report On Standards In Science And Physics

27 March 2009

Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;

"Although Ofqual have taken an in-depth and thorough approach to whether the specifications for GCSE science and physics are sufficiently secure, it has to be careful that it does not undermine confidence in the qualifications already gained by students.

"There is sometimes a perception amongst teachers that standards are not always consistent between different examination boards and the subjects they offer. There is every argument for examiners from different awarding bodies to observe each others' awarding meetings and by co-operating achieving overall consistency. Ofqual has a clear role in facilitating this development.

"We also need to see Ofqual bring in teachers’ organisations at a much earlier stage if there is emerging anxiety about whether a qualification is secure enough in its standard."