Ofqual is today (Wednesday 12 December)
publishing research that
identifies evidence of grade inflation associated with
internal assessment in some ‘older style’ Applied General
qualifications.
The research shows that over time, there has been a
significant increase in the number of students securing the
top grades in some qualifications, which has not been
matched by students’ prior attainment or their subsequent
degree or employment outcomes.
As such, Ofqual is calling on awarding organisations to act
on the findings of today’s report to address the risk of
grade inflation in these legacy qualifications.
More generally, and recognising the important role that
this group of qualifications plays in both widening
participation in higher education and as a route into
employment, Ofqual believes there is a need for awarding
organisations to consider how best to strengthen their
controls around internal assessment across a wide range of
technical and vocational qualifications.
Phil Beach, Executive Director for Vocational and Technical
Qualifications, said:
As the regulator, our primary role is to maintain the
integrity of standards in qualifications, and wherever we
find evidence that this may be threatened, it’s important
that we step in. This research shows that there are
unwarranted increases in results in some of the ‘older
style’ Applied General qualifications, and this has the
potential to undermine public confidence and devalue the
achievements of students. Although the Department for
Education has indicated its intention to review these
qualifications, we must take appropriate steps to manage
the potential for grade inflation while they remain in
use.
We are therefore calling on awarding organisations to
strengthen their controls on internal assessment in any
qualification where there are potential risks to
standards. We will also be considering whether additional
bespoke guidance or additional regulatory requirements
are required to ensure qualification standards are
maintained.
Bill Watkin, CEO, Sixth Form Colleges Association, said:
This report makes clear that there are great differences
between the old and new versions of the Applied General
qualifications.
The new version is more rigorous and demanding, and, like
A level, it has an examination component. It is
considerably harder for students to get the top grades in
them, but it is quite right that more and more sixth
forms – in schools and colleges – are choosing them. They
prepare young people for the workplace and for
university, they represent an essential pathway for
students to acquire skills that our economy and society
desperately need, and they provide the kind of stretch
and challenge that are needed to engage and motivate
young people to be aspirational and successful. The new
version should ensure the continued opportunity to study
applied general qualifications which are critical for
students, for the acquisition of skills essential for the
workplace and higher education, and for social mobility
and widening participation. If the old version is to be
discontinued after the government’s review, as seems
likely, students, colleges and schools will need
reassurances that their remaining concerns about the new
version have been addressed.
