Latest news with #privateSchools
The Independent
17-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Ofqual data ‘significantly overstated' number of pupils given extra exam time
The number of pupils in England reported to have been given extra time in their exams was significantly overstated, the exams regulator has admitted. Ofqual has announced it is withdrawing a decade's worth of statistics on pupils being granted special access arrangements in their GCSEs, AS and A-level exams after identifying issues with the data. It comes after data from the exams regulator last year suggested that nearly a third (30.1%) of pupils in England were given 25% extra time to complete their GCSEs, AS and A-level exams in 2023/24. The original figures, published by Ofqual in November, suggested that 41.8% of all candidates in independent centres – of which the majority are private schools – were granted 25% extra time in their exams in 2023/24, compared with 26.5% in non-selective state schools. But with just weeks to go until A-level results day, Ofqual has admitted that its published figures led to a 'significant overstatement' of access arrangements. A new analysis from Ofqual suggests that the proportion of students receiving access arrangements is 'much more closely aligned' with the proportion of students with special educational needs (Sen) in the school population. Department for Education (DfE) figures published last month suggest that nearly a fifth (19.5%) of pupils in England had Sen support or an education, health and care (EHC) plan in 2024/25. Ofqual said the 'problem' has been with the way the data was recorded and reported rather than how the access arrangements system has been used. For example it included arrangements for students who did not sit exams that year, and duplicate applications for the same student were not filtered out. Schools and colleges apply to exam boards for access arrangements to ensure that those students can sit their exams without being unfairly disadvantaged. Education leaders have suggested that more pupils are seeking support due to a rise in young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) and mental health issues since the pandemic. Requests for 25% extra time in exams is the most common exam board-approved access arrangement for pupils. Tom Bramley, executive director of research and analysis at Ofqual, said there are no issues with the access arrangements system itself and no student should be affected. In a blog on Thursday, he said: 'The approach to access arrangements remains unchanged.' Ofqual is withdrawing its official statistics on access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A-levels from 2014 to 2024. Revised statistics will be published later this year, covering the academic years from 2020/21 onwards, and they will be 'official statistics in development'. A detailed analysis of the data is expected to include updated figures on exam access arrangements for state and private school pupils. Mr Bramley said: 'In 2023 we started considering trends in access arrangements data and began research into how the arrangements were used and perceived in the education sector. 'As part of this work we requested more detailed data from exam boards, which we received at the end of 2024. 'We have always recognised that there are limitations to these figures. 'Our analysis has now revealed that they have led to a significant overstatement of approved access arrangements in place for the exam cohort in each year.' Earlier this year, Ofqual said it would 'take action' if it found that the higher proportion of private school pupils being given extra time in exams was due to unfairness. In February, Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator at Ofqual, told Tes magazine that the regulator was doing 'extra work' as he was 'concerned' by the gap between private school and state school candidates being granted special exam access arrangements. It came after the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called on the exams regulator last year to investigate why private school pupils were more likely to receive extra exam time than state school pupils. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said: 'Ofqual is supposed to be the trusted source for exam statistics and as a result of these significant errors, independent schools have wrongly seen their results undermined and their integrity questioned. 'We are pleased that the investigation instigated by the DfE will lead to a correction of the record and we hope an apology will be forthcoming.' Tom Middlehurst, deputy director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'We're pleased that Ofqual has conducted a thorough review of this data to understand why there have been very significant increases in access arrangements. 'Clearly, having identified issues which indicate that this is in fact overstated in the statistics it is the right thing to do to withdraw and correct the data. 'This will lead to a more accurate understanding of trends around access arrangements. 'It is, however, frustrating that the data was apparently incorrect in the first place.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'While it is regrettable that problems have been identified with these statistics, Ofqual has done the right thing in withdrawing them and working to correct and republish them. 'Having correct datasets on access arrangements is vital to identify trends and changes across the system. 'School leaders have certainly seen more requests for access arrangements in recent years in the aftermath of Covid, increased reports of anxiety and mental ill-health, and significant rises in numbers of children with additional needs.' A DfE spokeswoman said: 'Ofqual has acted appropriately in firstly reviewing the data and then identifying and addressing the issue as quickly and transparently as possible. 'We welcome Ofqual's commitment to improving data quality and transparency, and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure high standards across the system.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ofqual data ‘significantly overstated' number of pupils given extra exam time
The number of pupils in England reported to have been given extra time in their exams was significantly overstated, the exams regulator has admitted. Ofqual has announced it is withdrawing a decade's worth of statistics on pupils being granted special access arrangements in their GCSEs, AS and A-level exams after identifying issues with the data. It comes after data from the exams regulator last year suggested that nearly a third (30.1%) of pupils in England were given 25% extra time to complete their GCSEs, AS and A-level exams in 2023/24. The original figures, published by Ofqual in November, suggested that 41.8% of all candidates in independent centres – of which the majority are private schools – were granted 25% extra time in their exams in 2023/24, compared with 26.5% in non-selective state schools. But with just weeks to go until A-level results day, Ofqual has admitted that its published figures led to a 'significant overstatement' of access arrangements. A new analysis from Ofqual suggests that the proportion of students receiving access arrangements is 'much more closely aligned' with the proportion of students with special educational needs (Sen) in the school population. Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) last month suggest that 14.2% of pupils in England had Sen support in 2024/25. Ofqual said the 'problem' has been with the way the data was recorded and reported rather than how the access arrangements system has been used. For example it included arrangements for students who did not sit exams that year, and duplicate applications for the same student were not filtered out. Schools and colleges apply to exam boards for access arrangements to ensure that those students can sit their exams without being unfairly disadvantaged. Education leaders have suggested that more pupils are seeking support due to a rise in young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) and mental health issues since the pandemic. Requests for 25% extra time in exams is the most common exam board-approved access arrangement for pupils. Tom Bramley, executive director of research and analysis at Ofqual, said there are no issues with the access arrangements system itself and no student should be affected. In a blog on Thursday, he said: 'The approach to access arrangements remains unchanged.' Ofqual is withdrawing its official statistics on access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A-levels from 2014 to 2024. Revised statistics will be published later this year, covering the academic years from 2020/21 onwards, and they will be 'official statistics in development'. Mr Bramley said: 'In 2023 we started considering trends in access arrangements data and began research into how the arrangements were used and perceived in the education sector. 'As part of this work we requested more detailed data from exam boards, which we received at the end of 2024. 'We have always recognised that there are limitations to these figures. 'Our analysis has now revealed that they have led to a significant overstatement of approved access arrangements in place for the exam cohort in each year.' Earlier this year, Ofqual said it would 'take action' if it found that the higher proportion of private school pupils being given extra time in exams was due to unfairness. In February, Sir Ian Bauckham, chief regulator at Ofqual, told Tes magazine that the regulator was doing 'extra work' as he was 'concerned' by the gap between private school and state school candidates being granted special exam access arrangements. It came after the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asked the exams regulator to look into the access arrangement data. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said: 'Ofqual is supposed to be the trusted source for exam statistics and as a result of these significant errors, independent schools have wrongly seen their results undermined and their integrity questioned. 'We are pleased that the investigation instigated by the DfE will lead to a correction of the record and we hope an apology will be forthcoming.' Tom Middlehurst, deputy director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'We're pleased that Ofqual has conducted a thorough review of this data to understand why there have been very significant increases in access arrangements. 'Clearly, having identified issues which indicate that this is in fact overstated in the statistics it is the right thing to do to withdraw and correct the data. 'This will lead to a more accurate understanding of trends around access arrangements. 'It is, however, frustrating that the data was apparently incorrect in the first place.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'While it is regrettable that problems have been identified with these statistics, Ofqual has done the right thing in withdrawing them and working to correct and republish them. 'Having correct datasets on access arrangements is vital to identify trends and changes across the system. 'School leaders have certainly seen more requests for access arrangements in recent years in the aftermath of Covid, increased reports of anxiety and mental ill-health, and significant rises in numbers of children with additional needs.'
UAE Moments
16-07-2025
- UAE Moments
Abu Dhabi Bans 12 Schools from Enrolling Grades 11 & 12
Abu Dhabi just put the brakes on 12 private schools, stopping them from enrolling students in Grades 11 and 12—at least for now. The move comes from ADEK (Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge), and it's all part of a wider crackdown to keep high school grades real and reliable. Why the Ban Happened ADEK kicked off a full-on investigation after spotting suspicious gaps between students' school grades and how they actually performed on external tests. The numbers weren't adding up, and that raised some serious red flags. The aim? To make sure no one's faking the grade—and that diplomas actually reflect what students learned. Schools Now Under Review The schools under review now have to hand over their full academic breakdowns. We're talking transcripts, grading systems, test samples, and even graduation requirement checklists. It's a deep dive to find out if grades were padded or if credits were awarded without real performance. What's Coming Next This is just Phase One. ADEK says it will soon widen the review to include students from Grades 9 through 11. They'll also compare internal grades with external exams to spot any long-term patterns or school-wide issues.
UAE Moments
07-07-2025
- Business
- UAE Moments
Abu Dhabi Schools Can Withhold Certificates for Unpaid Fees
In a significant policy update, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has announced that private schools are now permitted to withhold student certificates if tuition fees remain unpaid —as long as the process follows a transparent and fair protocol. The new rule, which applies across all private schools in Abu Dhabi, aims to strike a balance between financial responsibility and student welfare. According to ADEK, schools must clearly outline their late payment policies on their official websites and provide reasonable, flexible installment plans for parents—without resorting to excessive penalties. "Schools must not contact students directly regarding unpaid fees, even if the result is enrollment suspension," the authority emphasized. To protect student privacy, confidentiality must be maintained at all times. Schools are prohibited from publicly disclosing or drawing attention to any student's unpaid fees. How Will It Work? Under the updated framework, schools are permitted to collect the first installment of tuition fees one month before the academic year starts. The remaining amount must be split into three or more equal installments, with payment schedules shared publicly and agreed upon by both parties. Contracts or written agreements may also be signed between parents and schools to ensure both sides understand their obligations. Ministry Confirms 14 Curricula Now Eligible for Grade 12 Certificate Equivalency In a separate announcement, the UAE Ministry of Education revealed that Grade 12 certificates from 14 international curricula taught in the UAE are now eligible for official equivalency—an essential step for university admissions and job applications. To obtain equivalency, students must provide: The ministry also clarified that certificates from open education or distance learning programs will not be considered for equivalency. Additional requirements include: Applicants have seven days to submit all required documents. If incomplete, the application will be closed after three failed contact attempts. The equivalency service costs Dh50 and takes approximately five working days. Submissions can be made via the Ministry of Education's website or approved mobile app.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- BBC News
Teacher jailed for abuse of pupils at private schools in Scotland
A teacher has been jailed for nine years for the sexual abuse of 11 boys over a 21-year period at private schools in ScotlandWilliam Bain, 72, attacked the pupils, aged between 11 and 14, at schools in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumbarton and at a flat in the grounds of one former physics teacher, from Crieff in Perthshire, admitted the attacks from 1978 to 1999, after his victims came forward following a previous conviction for similar was previously jailed in 2016 for abusing five boys at a school in Dunbartonshire. He was freed in 2020, but he was rearrested in 2022 after evidence was given at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. One of Bain's victims was aged just 12 when he began abusing the boy during detention sessions at a private school in Edinburgh in the late pupil was sexually abused while Bain helped him with his homework, later ordering the boy not to tell anyone about what had the mid-1980s, Bain had relocated to Aberdeen, where he sexually assaulted an "isolated and homesick" boy who had moved to the school from a housemaster at the school, invited the boy to his classroom where he abused him until the school bell rang. Bain's next victims were at the boarding school in Dunbartonshire - the same school that led to his imprisonment in teenage boy was abused on three occasions in the physics teacher's laboratory "in view of other pupils".Bain played off the abuse as "mere wrestling".Another boy had been the victim of bullying and had described the school as a "brutal environment".He was also attacked the lab as well as in a dark room at a photography club the teacher ran, during rugby training sessions and on hill walking incidents occurred in the physics lab, dark room and in Bain's private flat in the grounds of the school, which "a number of pupils" were given access teenager was attacked there while a film was being shown and a further attack occurred while this boy was using a computer at the victim described feeling "uncomfortable" as the teacher stood watching him and others pupils as they showered. 'Terrible legacy' Bain's lawyer, Brian McConnachie KC, said he had accepted his offending had been "out of control" about the time of the Lord Young said he had read a number of victim impact statements describing the "terrible legacy" left by Bain's judge said the then boys were left feeling "alone and lost" and thought they would not be believed had they spoke out at the time. Lord Young said: "These children were entrusted by their parents to the schools. They ought to have been nurtured and educated in a safe environment."Instead, it seems that throughout your career as a teacher, you abused this position to pursue your own sexual deviances."His sentence was cut from 10 years due to the guilty Sgt Alan Macdougall described Bain as a "prolific sexual predator".DS Macdougall said: "Bain used his position of power to inflict pain and harm on his young victims."The scale of his offending is horrendous. "
