Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Michael Gove rebuffs calls for a GCSE remark

Michael Gove faced a tough grilling from MPs on the Education Select Committee this morning about the row over GCSE English results. But the Education Secretary gave as good as he got, launching a fierce attack on the Welsh education minister Leighton Andrews for putting children in Wales at what he said was a disadvantage by ordering a remark of the papers. He told the packed committee room:
‘I believe that the children who have been disadvantaged are children in Wales. I think the decision by the Welsh education minister, Leighton Andrews, is irresponsible and mistaken. And I think that he has undermined confidence in Welsh children’s GCSEs and I think that he should think again about having made with I regard to be a regrettable political intervention in what should be a process free from political meddling.’
He insisted that to call for a remark of the papers would make him the chief examiner:
‘It would destroy the reputation of the regulator.

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