Around 45,000 students could re-take English GCSE exams

Following rows over the grading of national exam grades, teenagers are to re-sit GCSE English tests...

More than 45,000 children will be allowed to face their GSCE in English for a second time, as re-sits in November are being offered to pupils in a bid to tackle the row over grading. It is thought that some bodies will challenge this at high courts next week, following an announcement on Wednesday.

“We have now thoroughly examined the case that we have and we are convinced of the merits of our case, and the expectation that we will have a success to get the outcome we want - which is a re-grade for students," said a spokesperson.

“We will be putting our claim together and submitting it over the next week.”

The scandal over grades came about when GCSE results were dispensed in August. Watchdog Ofqual carried out an investigation that found January’s national examinations were graded apparently more “generously” compared to the tests marked from June.

The re-sits are expected to affect England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and according to a report by the BBC, the exam board is offering the papers without a charge. This concerns AQA, one of the main English GSCE exam boards.

Examiners AQA said in a statement that they acknowledged complaints, but that they had “followed the correct procedures and awarded the right grades.”

Figures reported by the BBC from the exam boards suggest that those pupils affected could be 1 in 14.