The government’s international education champion, Sir Steve Smith, has sent a letter to several international school associations in an apparent attempt to address concerns about Ofqual’s refusal to validate teacher-assessed grades in the Middle East.
, dated 21 May but published 19 June, is addressed to senior figures in the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), the Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO), British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) and the Heads’ Conference (HMC).
In it, Sir Steve acknowledges that the war in the Middle East has caused “significant disruption to education institutions...with worrying and troublesome implications for the UK international school community” and says that “assessment and examination provision” have been “particularly” affected.
Ofqual refuses teacher-assessed grades
This likely refers to the decision in April when Ofqual confirmed that it would not approve exam results awarded by teachers “in order to maintain the standards and trust that make qualifications valuable for every student”.
Ofqual said that, despite this method of awarding grades being used during the Covid pandemic, the approach was “designed to be used only at a system-wide level in exceptional circumstances”.
This decision meant schools had to pivot to enter students for exams not validated by Ofqual, thereby changing the qualifications that students would have on leaving school, and potentially impacting university places.
The decision was criticised at the time, with the chair of COBIS, Lord Jim Knight, referring to “the tin-eared response of government and, in particular, Ofqual and some of the examination boards”, at the organisation’s annual conference in May.
However, Sir Steve’s letter says he believes the response was the right one to ensure that trust in British organisations remained high, and that this protected students’ interests, too.
“I am confident that the decisions made by leading and trusted UK providers remain rooted in quality assurance and a staunch commitment to uphold the highest safeguarding standards, ensuring that students are given all necessary and reasonable support required to meet their full learning potential.”
He also says he is “confident” that student applications to universities in the UK or around the world will not be “adversely affected” by the situation - something that remains to be seen until exam results are released in August.
While acknowledging the disruption, Sir Steve is keen to reassure the sector that it is fully supported by the government, writing that the government “stands shoulder to shoulder with the British international school sector and the communities across the Middle East that the sector nurtures”.
He is also fulsome in praise for the work done by international schools during the war, acknowledging the “resilience, flexibility and urgency that have been displayed by school and learning communities” to ensure that “safety and wellbeing is at the centre of all decisions taken by educational leaders”.
Finally, he says the government is aware of how important the sector is to help deliver its International Education Strategy, and praises the work done already by sector associations to contribute towards it with “unswerving and relentless ambition - and even in the face of great adversity and challenge”.
He also confirms that a copy of the letter would be sent to the International Education Strategy ministerial team.
