DID THE QCA OR THE GOVERNMENT FAIL THE
STUDENTS?
61. The Tomlinson report concluded that the
alleged problem with the grading process this summer has its roots
in decisions made by the DfES and QCA about the structure of the
AS and A level awards, the assessment model and the preparation
for the introduction of the new arrangements, particularly for
A2.[69]
62. Dr Boston told us: "The QCA
did everything it could to make a clear statement about how the
A2 standard and the AS standard related, and, indeed, I understand
it has been on our website since 2000; we did everything we could
to write rich, meaningful statements about grades in all the subjects,
which examiners and teachers could understand."[70]
63. Mr Tomlinson told us: "I believe that,
though the QCA issued some guidance, that guidance in my view
was not satisfactory and sufficient to clearly define the standard
of AS and A2 and to exemplify it by material not only with reference
to the criteria but also to students' work. That was missing as
well."[71]
64. Dr Boston recognised that the QCA had not
provided sufficient exemplars of the A2 standard. He commented
that it was difficult to "know what a grade B is at A2 level
until you have looked at a thousand scripts, from young people
across the country". He told us that this was "not a
fault of the QCA or of the awarding bodies, that was a fault of
the timeline; we launched into the first A2 examinations
in summer without that pilot material behind us, and we should
have had two years of it."[72]
65. Mr Tomlinson believed that greater independence
for the QCA could be generated by shifting its accountability.
Whilst he acknowledged that as HMCI he had been given a certain
amount of independence by being held accountable to this committee,
he did not believe that such a measure would provide enough independence
for the QCA from the DfES: "changing the legal status of
the body would not necessarily of itself change the behaviours
and relationships. What you want are changes in those relationships."
He insisted that "the QCA must be a rigorous regulator and
must be fully involved throughout the awarding process, fully
involved throughout, which at the moment is not the case".[73]
66. Mr Tomlinson compared the relationship of
the QCA and the DfES with Ofsted's relationship with the Department.
He said "It was a matter of being diligent at all times.
Hence, for example, I did always request and, indeed, I always
got, a full remit from the Secretary of State for any particular
activity they wanted Ofsted to undertake - not how it should be
done, I always resisted that - in particular the involvement of
other parties, if other parties were to work with Ofsted. It is
that clarity we want [for the QCA]."[74]
69 Tomlinson Interim Report - recommendation. Back
70
Q.241 Back
71
Q.441 Back
72
Q.241 Back
73
Q.472 Back
74
Q.473 Back
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