Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has told Education Minister, Huw Lewis, of the distress caused by the unexpectedly low GCSE English results to a North Wales pupil and parent and called for an independent inquiry into the fiasco.
In an Emergency Question in the Assembly Chamber this week, Mr Isherwood, said an Anglesey parent has described the situation as a “Monumental mess-up” and urged the Minister to respond.
He said: “How would you respond to the Anglesey parent who e-mailed: ‘My daughter and everyone else in her top set English class has been affected by a monumental mess-up. If she doesn’t get sufficiently good grades, her chosen career as a dentist will be impossible.’
She concluded by saying: ‘The phrase by the Minister which amused me is that the exam was changed to boost Wales’ disappointing exam results. It certainly has achieved that.’
Education Minister Huw Lewis rejected claims that the introduction of a tougher GCSE exam in Wales has been a fiasco.
Mr Isherwood added: “Labour Welsh Government disasters have become so common place that we are now hardly surprised when another one comes along. However the future of our young people demands both a big apology and an independent inquiry behind which Ministers can not hide.”
