ATL comment on benchmark ‘pass’ grade for the new GCSEs

Commenting on the pass grade for the new GCSEs, Association of Teachers and Lecturers general secretary (ATL), Dr Mary Bousted, said: “It is good to see that the education secretary has seen some sense and has attempted to dispel the confusion around what now constitutes a pass at GCSE. However, introducing grade 4 as the “standard pass” and grade 5 as the “strong pass”, for reporting purposes, will do little to dispel the confusion. Why not just stick with grade 4 as the new pass grade?”