English test options ‘confusing’ international students
Range of current providers and questions around which assessment is best requires greater clarity from universities, UKCISA warns.
English language requirements are about more than getting in
With sector debate about English language requirements often driven by anecdote and risk, Yinbo Yu presents findings from new UKCISA research – and argues the conversation needs to start from diversity, not assumption.
Could a broader mix of languages halt the decline of MFL?
GCSE entries data shows a big rise in ‘other modern languages’ – prompting calls for government to support schools to meet growing demand for qualifications in students’ home languages.
A vision for teaching English
Curriculum documents are strange things. At their worst, they’re dead paper: worthy phrases, careful compromises and lists of dry content.
STEM must remain part of the enrichment conversation
The Department for Education’s new Enrichment Framework is a welcome recognition that education extends beyond the classroom.
AQA apologises for mistake in ‘all versions’ of GCSE science paper
In correspondence seen by Tes, England’s largest exam board tells exams officers it has reported the issue to Ofqual and will ensure no students are disadvantaged.
Technical issues halt marking of GCSE maths paper
Pearson Edexcel says marking has now resumed and there has been no impact on its ‘accuracy or integrity’, after issues emerged last night.
Literacy charity expands its inclusive book gifting programme to 100 under-resourced primary schools
One hundred primary schools will receive a collection of inclusive children’s books under an expansion of the Inclusive Books for Children’s (IBC) gifting programme.
Students without English GCSE ‘to be locked out of loans’
DfE reportedly considering introducing minimum entry standard, potentially blocking tens of thousands of applicants from accessing student finance.
Ofqual fines Cambridge English £875k over IELTS marking errors
UK qualifications regulator Ofqual has fined Cambridge English £875,000 following an investigation into automated marking errors that led to incorrect IELTS results being issued to more than 62,000 learners worldwide between 2023 and 2025.
Students could be required to pass GCSE English to access university loans
University students would face minimum grade requirements to qualify for student loans in England under proposals that could in effect bar thousands of young people from higher education.
“The natural world is for everyone”: Natural History GCSE consultation opens
Cambridge OCR has called for a Natural History GCSE “that gives young people of all backgrounds access to the benefits of nature”, as the Department for Education launches a consultation on the content of the new qualification.
New natural history GCSE to grow next generation of green careers
In a landmark moment for education, young people will soon be able to grow the knowledge and skills they need for future careers shaped by science, technology and environmental change, as the new Natural History GCSE is one step closer to being taught in classrooms.
GCSE natural history: what schools need to know
Pupils will learn how to identify plants, animals and fungi, as well as learn about climate change and habitats, under subject content proposals for the new natural history GCSE.
Ofqual fines Cambridge English £875,000 after incorrect results for global English language tests
Ofqual has fined Cambridge English £875,000 after it issued incorrect results to thousands of people who took English language tests, including those used for visa, immigration and university entrance purposes.
Natural history GCSE finally gets go-ahead
Landmark qualification to be made available in schools years after its initial target start date, with content to be decided after a 12-week consultation.
A-level music ‘could disappear’ after entries sink to record low
Tes analysis shows entries are down 41 per cent since 2013, with the government accused of showing ‘none of the action required’ to help music flourish.
Natural history GCSE to teach teenagers to plant wildflower-friendly gardens
School pupils will learn how to plant a wildflower-friendly garden, according to long-awaited plans announced on Thursday for a natural history GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Cambridge fined £875k for automated test blunder
The University of Cambridge has been fined £875,000 after automated marking failures caused tens of thousands of people to receive incorrect English language test results, including some needed for visa, immigration and university applications.
Test makers handed out wrong English language results to thousands
The exams regulator, Ofqual, has fined Cambridge English £875,000 against after the test maker issued erroneous results to tens of thousands of people undertaking English language proficiency tests.