Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Lewis Excerpts
Monday 3rd September 2012

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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For 13 years, Ministers under Labour did fail the test. They failed to ensure that our examinations were modernised and reformed so as to be among the world’s best. This is a test that we are determined to meet. It is a great pity that the Labour party is not joining us in making sure that our state education system is one of the world’s best.

Julian Lewis Portrait Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)
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Would it assist my right hon. Friend in his admirable wish to reintroduce rigour to GCSEs if pupils who sat them were told the actual marks given, and not just the grades, which are subject to inflation?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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My hon. Friend makes a very good point. The greater the transparency in the grade setting and marking process, the better. That is one of the reasons Ofqual exists as an independent regulator, and one of the reasons it should continue to do that job, not Ministers.