§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that GCE examining boards adopt a reasonably uniform system of marking; and whether she has received any recent representations to the contrary.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe complex task of monitoring standards in public examinations is undertaken by the examining boards themselves under the general oversight of the Schools Council. I am satisfied that there are well-established procedures which are designed to maintain comparability of examination standards and that these are kept under review. I have received no recent representations about the consistency of marking by GCE boards.
736Wreason and when they will be returned to use.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown,pursuant to his answer [Official Report, 13th July 1977; Vol. 935, c. 131–132], gave the following revised information:
20 ranges have been temporarily taken out of use during the past 12 months, of which six have already been reopened and a further four are due to reopen before the end of this year.