Hayes School's GCSE results furore legal challenge put on hold (From News Shopper)

Hayes School's GCSE results furore legal challenge put on hold

1:01pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Harry Kemble

ANY HOPES Hayes School's headteacher had of meeting the government have been put on hold after the cabinet reshuffle. 

Kieran Osborne, who chairs the Head Teachers National Executive Board, was to discuss the proposed legal challenge over the GCSE furore with the now ex-schools minister Nick Gibb.

However, he was disappointed to learn that Tory Mr Gibb had been succeeded by Lib Dem David Laws in Tuesday's government review.

"Right now what we are trying to do is keep the channels of communication open," he said. "We can't currently talk about any decisions that are being made so that is a pity.

"It is not if they will but how they will engage with us when they do finally meet us."

Despite many schools achieving record results many teachers were furious that English GCSE exams were marked more "generously" in January than those taken in the summer.

Ninety-two per cent of Hayes' pupils received at least five A* to Cs, with 76 per cent with five A* to Cs including English and maths.

Yet, school teachers across the country felt let down by the different boundaries set exam boards and many have discussed the possibility of a legal proceedings because "results could have been even better".

Mr Osborne had said recently - before the decision to replace Mr Gibb - that he supported a campaign by headteachers and principals to challenge the GCSE grade boundaries set this year.