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Wales considers going it alone on exams

Wales's education minister is to consider whether to follow Scotland and create a more independent exam system in the wake of the row over marking GCSE English papers.

Leighton Andrews has asked government officials in Cardiff to consider whether the Welsh education system can remain “in hock” with that in England or whether it should move in the direction of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

This year’s GCSE results showed a fall in the pass rate in the top grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the first time since the exams replaced O levels and CSEs 24 years ago. 

Mr Andrews has called for a review of poor results in GCSE English but has already made it known he agrees with the view of many teachers that exam boards have been under political pressure to mark more harshly, a claim which Whitehall denies.

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