Severe Grading in MFL

How do grades in languages compare with grades in other subjects?

Click on the links below. They will either go to separate pages giving detailed information and support (from which there will be a download) or directly to a downloadable document.

Overall situation

Detailed paper on Severe Grading

Useful points for discussing/analysing exam results

Process & related articles (chronological - most recent on top)

Overall situation

A detailed study has been carried out using national data in order to compare the grades obtained by pupils in languages with the grades in other subjects. This shows clearly that pupils of the same prior attainment will, on average, obtain lower grades in languages than other subjects at both GCSE and AS/A level.

Because this data is drawn from PANDA and DfES sources, it will be invaluable for members preparing for Performance Management, Threshold Applications, annual Examination Analysis (including discussion with Heads and Governors) and OFSTED/Self Evaluation Form.

The outcomes from the study have been endorsed by the recently published research from the Durham University Curriculum Evaluation and Management Centre (home of ALIS and midYIS, Yellis, PIPS) and reported in the Times Educational Supplement 31st March 2006.

Detailed Paper on Severe Grading

9th April 2006

Paper

4 page statement followed by detailed appendices giving sophisticated analysis of KS3. KS4, AS and A level results

Click here to download this as a word document.

Useful points for discussing / analysing ML results

Statements

Sample statements which may be helpful when explaining the situation to colleagues, managers and OFSTED

Process & related articles. Most recent on top.

February 20th 2008	Press release from ALL, ASCL & ISMLA
February 19th 2008	QCA report 'Grade standards in GCSE modern foreign languages' This document provides QCA's response to Lord Dearing's view that the award of grades in GCSE languages is more demanding than for most other subjects. BBC article. reporting on QCA report + press release.
January 2008	Reply from Christine Gilbert (HMIC i/c OFSTED) in response to letter from John Dunford about the impact of CVA on schools with compulsory languages.
November 2007	Reply from Ken Boston to letter on severe grading.
November 2007	Letter to Mr Jim Knight on severe grading and change in profile
November 5th 2007	LibDem written question put by David Laws
November 5th 2007	'Modern language GCSEs lowest in years' article in Guardian reporting on written Parliamentary Question from David Laws
October 2007	Letter on Change in Profile and Impact on Grading
October 2007	Letter on Severe Grading sent to Ed Balls, Ken Boston,Lid King and Ron Dearing from 80 Language Colleges at Language College Conference, Oxford
September 2007	2003-2007 points to grades AQA French Linear Grids
August 2007	Published statistics on numbers doing GCSE June 07 and grades obtained
June 4th 2007	Response from Alan Johnson to letter sent in May Letter from Alan Johnson to say that he has asked the QCA to conduct a review and is awaiting their advice on whether or not to change grade boundaries. Link to download pdf here
May 9th 2007	Letter urging Alan Johnson to respond immediately to the Dearing recommendation regarding severe grading Letter sent to Alan Johnson from ASCL, signed by John Dunford (ASCL), Duncan Byrne (ISMLA), David Mansfield (SSAT) and David Wilson (ALL) Page 1 Page 2
March 12th 2007	'Too hard' modern language GCSEs may be made easier Guardian article following publication of Dearing Review
March 2007	GCSE French comparability study 2004-2005 (QCA)
March 2007	Powerpoint presentation online relating to ASCL conference, March 2007 Powerpoint presentation used by Dr Robert Coe at the ASCL conference - link to site
March 10th 2007	BBC News article from ASCL conference reporting on Dr Coe's presentation to the conference. Some GCSEs 'easier than others' - web page Pasted into word document. Extracts: Pupils who opt for "easier" subjects such as sport or drama rather than sciences or languages could achieve higher GCSE grades, research suggests. A Durham University study concludes some subjects are easier than others - because of the way exams are graded.
October 2006	Proposal following meeting Proposal
October 2006	ALL / QCA / Exam Boards Meeting report Report of meeting held between representatives of ALL, QCA and exam boards in October 2006
March 31st 2006	Addenda to original statement Additional paragraphs to be inserted into original statement following further analysis in light of CEM analysis (post 31.3.06)
March 31st 2006	Drama and PE are soft options' - TES (link to be added) Study from Durham CEM challenges exam chiefs' claims that every subject is equally difficult. 'They concluded that, students, whatever their ability, would be more likely to achieve good grades in subjects such as drama and P, than in science and languages'
January 2006	Original statement original (Jan 06) 3 page statement followed by detailed appendices giving sophisticated analysis of KS3. KS4, AS and A level results
October 5th 2004	Language Barrier - The Guardian Report of drop in take-up at KS4, includes comments on comparison of grades achieved by pupils in different subjects
June 2004	A Level Regression statistics + graph Download excel spreadsheet here
	Powerpoint slide showing graph plotting "difference between the subject grade and the average of other subjects taken by the same pupils" v "the average score in other subjects.". The graph forms a clear pattern from top-left to bottom-right with French and German at the extreme bottom-right (along with Maths and Sciences) - it is perhaps no surprise that on average, those who do French get the highest average A level scores .. Download graph here
June 2004	PANDA Relative Performance Index for A level 2004 - raw data before turned into a graph Download excel spreadsheet of data here.