Industry News
'Disproportionate success' of independent and grammar
Posted on 13th August 2007
Candidates from independent or grammar schools will claim a disproportionate amount of the higher grades when A*'s are introduced to A-levels next year, claims an expert.
Mike Cresswell, director general of the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) exam board made the comments to the Sunday Telegraph.
He said pupils from selective schools would be even more successful in gaining A* grades and this would widen the achievement gap to an even greater extent.
Mr Cresswell said to expect "to see independent schools and maintained selective schools represented in the A* category even more strongly than they are currently in the A category".
This, he added, could cause problems for the government's plans to see more state school pupils go on to university.
August 16th is the date families are waiting for as this year's A-level results are published.
In a new scheme, one exam board will publish candidate's results online, allowing students to download their results from anywhere in the world.