Ofqual appointed to investigate Chemistry A level result

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has appointed Ofqual to undertake the investigation into how incorrect grades were advised to Chemistry A level students.

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the independent regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and of vocational qualifications in the North of Ireland.

Minister Ruane said: “Immediately upon learning of the failure in the marking of the Chemistry A level by CCEA I said I wanted a full external investigation into this.

“The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation will undertake the investigation which will comprise two stages. The first stage will look specifically at this particular failure, while the second stage will be a more detailed review of processes and practices within CCEA. The findings and recommendations from both stages will be made public. The investigation will begin immediately and I would hope to receive the first report by the end of September 2010.

“Students, their parents, teachers and the wider community need to have confidence in our examinations systems. This investigation is the first step towards CCEA regaining that confidence.”

Notes to editors:

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Terms of Reference

For an external investigation, commissioned by the Department of Education, following the failure of the CCEA marking process in relation to a 2010 summer A2 level Chemistry paper.

On 20 August 2010 the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) became aware that incorrect marks had been awarded in the multiple choice section of an A2 Chemistry paper. This resulted in 151 students from the north of Ireland receiving lower grades than they should have.

The Department of Education, CCEA’s sponsor department, has therefore asked the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) to conduct an external investigation into the failure of the CCEA marking process in relation to the 2010 summer A level chemistry paper.

The investigation should comprise two stages:

(a) Stage 1

An immediate investigation to identify and record what went wrong, how the failure occurred, how it was discovered, how it was communicated to all relevant bodies, how many candidates were affected, with a report and recommendations for immediate action to the Department by the end of September 2010 at the latest.

(b) Stage 2

Informed by the findings of Stage 1, a more detailed review of processes and practices within CCEA Awarding Body focusing on systems and processes as well as management, control, quality assurance and compliance will be conducted. This review will identify any weaknesses and make recommendations on measures to be taken to ensure that similar failures do not recur. The review will report to the Department by the end of October 2010 in order to allow any necessary actions to be taken in time for the forthcoming winter examinations series.

Ofqual will be provided with access to evidence from CCEA and may seek evidence from third parties as appropriate.

The reports will be made available to the Minister of Education and subsequently published, along with details of actions to be taken, in response to the reports.