§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many candidates in 1990, 1991 and 1992, in the Southern examining group area, had their grades altered due to a year-on-year change in standards of more than 3 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthNew GCSE awarding procedures were introduced by the Southern examining group in 1992. To ensure that these did not result in a change in standards, awarding officers' judgments were reconsidered in those cases where there was a significant change in the proportions of candidates achieving particular grades. The awarding officers' judgments were endorsed in all but two770W subjects; in these, 329 grades out of 19,374–1.7 per cent. —were revised. These procedures were not in operation in 1990 and 1991.