Expletive Given Marks in English Exam

A review has been launched after a top examiner gave a GCSE English candidate marks for writing only a two word expletive on their exam paper.

Peter Buckroyd, the Assessment and Qualification Alliance's (AQA) chief examiner for GCSE English, gave the pupil two marks out of a possible 27 for writing "fuck off" on the exam paper.

According to The Times Mr Buckfield defended his leniency by saying that the candidate had demonstrated more skills than one "who doesn't write anything at all".

He told The Times: "It would be wicked to give it a zero because it does show some very basic skills we are looking for - like conveying some meaning and some spelling."

The Joint Council for Qualifications, a body representing the exam boards, said that examiners were required to report instances of "inappropriate, offensive or obscene material" in exam scripts. The awarding body must investigate and decide on an appropriate sanction.

An AQA spokeswoman said that examiners in a similar position should contact the board for advice.

She said: "As a result, an obscenity should either be disregarded, or action will be taken against the candidate, depending on the seriousness of the case.

"The example cited was unique in the experience of the senior examiner concerned and was used in a pre-training session to emphasise the importance of adhering to the mark scheme: i.e. if a candidate makes any sort of response to a question then it must be at least given consideration to be awarded a mark.

"We do not condone the use of obscenities in scripts: in the light of this incident we will be reviewing our instructions to examiners which will include reiterating the procedure to be followed when encountering obscenities in scripts."

Foreign Students Accused of Degree Fraud

An influential MP has said that the Government must take seriously the fraud of foreign students with poor English language skills graduating with postgraduate qualifications in the UK.

Phil Willis, Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Karesborough and Chair of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, warned of unease at the way standards were policed.

Mr Willis' comments come a few days after a university lecturer blew the whistle on her institution's approach to recruiting postgraduates who lack even basic English skills.

The anonymous female academic, who works in a science department in a well known UK university, told how she'd had to resort to drawing pictures to communicate with some postgraduates because their English was so poor.

Hundreds of people emailed the BBC to corroborate what the whistleblower had said. Several of the email correspondents claimed that their institutions were happy to turn a blind eye to overseas postgraduates with poor language skills, because of their high tuition fees.

Concern was also expressed that some overseas students resorted to plagiarism to overcome their poor level of written English. Institutions are reluctant to penalise these students, because they recognise that such cutting and pasting may be acceptable in different cultures.

Mr Willis said: "The government must take this issue seriously.

"The quality of our higher education product - with several of our universities in the top 100 universities in the world - is dependent on the quality of research and the quality of the students doing the research, and that must not be jeopardised. "

"It is hugely disappointing that the academic cannot report this to his or her own university or to Hefce [England's funding body for higher education].

"It is critically important that where there is evidence of malpractice - or fraud, which is what this is - that it is teased out as quickly as possible."

The universities claim to have measures in place to ensure students have sufficient knowledge of English to cope with their studies.

Parents Given Green Light for Village School

A group of parents has been given permission to open a new village school.

The villagers of Bolnore in West Sussex are the first parents in England to win the right to open their own school.

The primary school, with sufficient places for 210 pupils, will be built in woodland near Haywards Heath.

Children from the village currently have to travel to over 20 different schools, most of them several miles away.

The need for a school was recognised by West Sussex County Council last year, with the population of Bolnore creeping upwards. Due to Government legislation the authority had to put the proposal for the new site out to tender.

It is the first time parents have succeeded in a competitive bid to run a primary school, but it is not the first parent-led state school.

Bolnore School Group chairman Julia Bunting Thring said: "We're incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to create a new school that will meet the needs of all our children, our families and our community.

"Our proposal is about partnership. It's about bringing together the best people to ensure that every child can flourish and reach their full potential."

Jim Knight, Minister for Schools, said: "This shows that our policy of increasing choice and diversity for parents and pupils is really working. We want new and distinctive groups to get involved in education where this has the support of the local community and will help to raise standards.

"This could include other schools, local colleges and universities and other institutions with a presence in the area, perhaps in a shared trust.

"And we particularly welcome the involvement of parents and local residents themselves who know the needs of the children and the area. I congratulate the Bolnore School's Group on their success, and wish them all the best for the future."

The new foundation school will open in September 2009. To begin with it will operate in shared primary school accommodation in Haywards Heath, moving to new buildings the following year.

Scotland Offers New Baccalaureates

The Scottish Government has announced the introduction of new science and languages Baccalaureates.

Launching the scheme at Stirling University Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "The new Baccalaureates are designed to stretch our most able young people and the first awards will be made in 2010. The Baccalaureates will contribute to the Government's principal purpose of creating a more successful Scotland with opportunities for all to flourish through increasing sustainable economic growth."

"The awards aim to encourage more of our young people to study science and language courses in the later stages of secondary school, raise the status of S6 and assist our young people in making the transition from school to higher and further education and employment."

The new qualifications, based on the existing system of Highers, are intended to smooth the transition between school and university or employment.

The Science Baccalaureate will consist of a maths Higher, two science Highers, one science at advanced Higher, and an "interdisciplinary" project to be taken at the Advanced Higher level.

The Language Baccalaureate will consist of English or Gaelic at Higher level, two modern or classical language courses at Higher, one modern or classical language course at Advanced Higher, and an interdisciplinary course at Advanced Higher level.

The Conservatives have accused the Government of making the awards system even more complicated.