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Game over for gaming?

game over for gaming?

2 October 2013

The DfE have announced measures aimed at ensuring schools are only able to include first attempt GCSE grades in future league tables.

The changes will take immediate effect for 'core' subjects and are part of a drive to prevent schools from ‘exam gaming’ in order to improve their ranking in league tables. The DfE have stated that the move will make schools only enter pupils for exams when they are certain that the pupil has the best chance of success, rather than ‘cheating’.

Critics claim that the new rules will not prevent those schools who are determined to play the system to continue to do so (for instance, by using different exam boards), whilst the measures at the same time have the potential to hold bright pupils back.

It will be interesting to see whether the new rules have an effect on how schools manage their plans for GCSE entry.

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Jamie Otter

Legal Director

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