A roaring success: Critically endangered tiger cubs born at Pembrokeshire zoo
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ITV News
7 hours ago
- ITV News
WJEC faces £350k fine after hundreds of students given wrong GCSE results
An exam board is to be fined £350,000 for breaching rules which led to hundreds of students being given the wrong GCSE grades. More than 1,500 students who had taken a WJEC food preparation and nutrition GCSE in England last year were given an incorrect result. WJEC is Wales' largest awarding body, but also offers qualifications across England and Northern Ireland. Ofqual, England's exam watchdog, said WJEC had failed to adjust teachers' marking of coursework – which made up 50% of the qualification – to ensure results were in line with national standards. It meant that 847 students received lower grades and 680 got higher grades than they should have. Those who received the incorrect lower grades were given the corrected grade several months later, but those who received the incorrect higher grades kept them, the watchdog confirmed. In the second case, WJEC reported that it had allowed nearly 4,000 exam papers between 2017 and 2023 to be reviewed by the same assessors who had originally marked at least part of them, which broke exam regulations. In response to the incident, WJEC said it "sincerely" apologises and takes "full responsibility." It has issued credit notes as financial compensation to schools and colleges affected, totalling just over £219,000. Ofqual said the proposed fine reflects the "serious nature of WJEC's failures." Amanda Swann, Ofqual's Executive Director for General Qualifications, said: "Students must be able to trust that their results accurately reflect their performance, and what they know, understand and can do. "These proposed fines reflect the serious nature of WJEC's failures and our commitment to protecting the interests of students and maintaining the integrity of our qualifications system. This includes the requirement that GCSE, AS and A levels students are entitled to an independent review of their exam marks." The watchdog said it took into account that WJEC had admitted the breaches, accepted responsibility, and taken steps to prevent the problems happening again. A WJEC spokesperson said: 'We would like to sincerely apologise to the learners affected by these incidents. We take full responsibility and acknowledge that we did not meet the usual high standards expected of us."Having cooperated fully with Ofqual throughout the process, we want to reassure learners and centres that we have undertaken a thorough review of our processes and implemented appropriate measures to ensure such incidents do not occur again in the future. The measures we successfully introduced in 2024 have proven effective." With regards to the impact on exam papers in Wales, the exam body added: "Regarding the fine associated with reviews of marking, Qualifications Wales is currently considering the appropriate steps to take. We are working closely with them and will provide a response once a final decision has been reached." Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS, said: 'The scale of the failure undermines trust in the qualifications system and raises serious questions about oversight and governance. 'The WJEC must ensure that robust safeguards are now in place to prevent such errors from happening again. She added: 'Pupils across Wales deserve full confidence in the exam board ahead of results day next month and this incident does nothing to reassure them that their own grades will be accurate and reliable.'
North Wales Live
13 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Amazon shoppers praise £13 gadget as 'life saver' for keeping wasps away
One of the finest aspects of the summer months is spending time in the open air, particularly savouring a delightful outdoor meal beneath the sun's rays. Nevertheless, we've all encountered the challenge of attempting to sit and relish your food whilst constantly having to bat away, flee from or avoid wasps who have set their sights on your dish. Whilst they're equally as bothersome as flies, the additional threat of their stings (particularly for those with allergies) can transform your barbecue from peaceful to panic-inducing. That's precisely why Amazon customers have been hailing this £13 item as a 'life saver' for keeping them away. The Green Protect Wasp and Flying Insect Trap is simple to operate and functions by drawing wasps and flies away from your eating space to prevent them from spoiling your meal. It's also been specially developed so that it doesn't entice bees, meaning you needn't fret about accidentally harming any bumble bees or worker bees. Sophie Thorogood, a spokesperson at Pest-Stop, shared some guidance on utilising the trap, explaining: "To keep wasps away from your BBQ, position a few traps around the edges of your garden or fence line. "These non-toxic traps lure wasps away from your guests, patio area and food and are a great first port of call. The bait lasts for up to six weeks and refills are available for ongoing protection." The Green Protect Wasp and Flying Insect Trap is straightforward to set up and should be positioned in a shaded area where wasps are frequently spotted. Simply place it on any flat surface, ideally where there's air circulation but away from strong winds, and pour 250ml of the liquid attractant into the trap, reports the Mirror. The solution is non-toxic, and after three weeks you can dispose of the liquid (and insects) inside, before refilling it with the remaining 250ml of the attractant liquid, giving you six weeks in total of wasp and fly repelling. You can also buy refills of the liquid for £7, making it a cost effective way to keep them at bay long term. For more Welsh homes, garden and interiors content, Sign up to our newsletter here If you'd prefer a solution which doesn't harm or kill the wasps but simply deters them from entering your garden, there are a couple of other ideas. Hanging a decoy wasp nest like this Waspinator one, which comes in a two pack for £9.99 from B&Q, that can be enough to keep them from setting up camp in your garden. They require no cleaning or maintenance, and can be simply hung up in whatever area you want to keep wasps away from – they even work when camping or enjoying time at your caravan. Rather than killing off the wasps, they simply change their behaviour and stop them from entering an area they think is already another wasp's territory. Particular fragrances also deter wasps and prevent them from turning up in your garden, with mint being one aroma that keeps them away. So you might consider planting some mint varieties, such as these Large Mentha Mint Plants which are currently available for £9.89 reduced from £10.99 from website Carbeth Plant, to discourage wasps from visiting – plus give you some fresh mint ready for cooking or your summer Pimms. Meanwhile the Green Protect Wasp and Flying Insect Trap has received acclaim from Amazon customers for how well it works, with one commenting: "Honestly a life saver when having a bbq, kept the wasps at bay which is great for those in my family with allergies to their sting." Another buyer concurred, saying: "We have been using this for about 3 weeks, and the number of flies and wasps in our home has reduced noticeably. The bottle is filling with wasps and the flies are just staying away. I would recommend and will buy more." Other customers had less remarkable outcomes, with one buyer noting: "Placed it in several places near to a wasp nest, but it did not catch even one wasp." A further buyer commented: "Simple to setup and place, it doesn't stink at first however after a week with dead insects it can smell. I'd recommend in an elevated position indoors to avoid smell."
Cambrian News
14 hours ago
- Cambrian News
National Library of Wales highlight Patagonia voices
Dr Lublin recognises that the perspectives shared in the exhibition can make some of us uncomfortable, as they challenge the Welsh-centric narratives we have been able to access until now. Failing to look beyond to a simplified historical narrative that celebrates the Welsh settlement as a symbol of linguistic and cultural resilience prevents us from understanding the far more complex truths of its actual role in the broader history of Patagonian settlement. This limited view not only glosses over the nuanced interactions that took place but also prevents us from grasping a crucial reality: the profound impacts of events that unfolded 160 years ago are still very real for indigenous communities today, not just lingering in a distant past. Furthermore, overlooking indigenous perspectives means ignoring indigenous agency and ongoing resistance, missing the nuances of their political strategies, their participation in trade for their own benefit and their remarkable ability to navigate and shape the changing landscape of Patagonia right up to the present day.
