Tough lesson

Whilst I did praise to a certain extent the (slightly) tougher GCSE marking for this years results, I knew it would only be a matter of time before those results were challenged by those who have an interest in keeping the ever higher 'tractor production stats' in place. After all for all the kids were disappointed in the results, the teachers (and heads) were the ones left really looking bad with the results.
Express.

FURY erupted last night after the exam regulator admitted there had been grading problems during this year’s GCSEs.
Ofqual said grade boundaries had changed part way through the year. But it has refused to order exam boards to regrade this summer’s English results.
Instead of regrading, pupils would be offered early resits in November, the regulator said.
Head teachers’ union ASCL said the move was wholly unacceptable and is threatening legal action.
It urged Ofqual to investigate exactly when it was revealed that grade boundaries for the exam changed between January and June. Heads claim those who sat it in June were put at an unfair disadvantage.

Unfair? Perhaps, but only unfair in that more rigorous standards were applied. after all if the teachers and heads had done their jobs properly we wouldn't be in the position of constantly lowering standards to make the kids look as good as previous generations.
Even the Express admitted as such back in 2010...

BRITISH TEENAGERS 'AMONG THE MOST STUPID IN THE WORLD'
BRITISH teenagers have plummeted in the world's educational rankings leaving them trailing behind their peers in Poland, Slovenia and Estonia, it was revealed today.

But it's not really the kids fault that they have been betrayed by successive governments meddling in education standards nor the teaching industry itself not doing their jobs properly and ensuring the kids did get a proper education 'despite' the states meddling, though in a lot of cases the teaching unions went along with the reforms as they fitted into the dire socialist dogma that often passes for intelligent thinking in those outmoded institutions.
The kids are no less intelligent than my generation, but they have been betrayed by a system in which all must have prizes which drove up the exam pass rate by driving down the standards by which they were judged. It might take generations to repair the damage done to the system, but tougher regimes in examinations is a decent start to make. Unfortunately it's too late for those betrayed by the liberal/left in education over the last two decades (at least)