Majority of secondary schools saw pupils lose out on C grade passes due to English GCSE grade boundary changes

The vast majority of secondary schools saw pupils losing out on C grade passes as a result of last minute changes to the English GCSE grade boundaries, the investigation into the affair heard today.

A survey of 800 schools by the Association of School and College Leaders revealed 87 per cent were complaining about the GCSE English results.

Ofqual, the exams regulator, is taking evidence from teaching organisations about the marking this week and expected to make a further statement of its intent before the weekend.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of ASCL - which represents heads of secondary schools and colleges, added that papers did not need to be remarked to solve the dilemma - all that was necessary was for them to be regraded “putting right what’s happened”.

Heads are incensed that it appears grade boundaries were changed after thousands of pupils had taken the papers in January - meaning around 10,000 teenagers would have got a C grade had they sat it then but ended up with a D grade.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Teachers warned that the investigation by Ofqual - while welcome - was “just not good enough”.

Kevin Courtney,its deputy general secretary. said an independent inquiry was neede “to address the deep sense of mistrust that is developing between teachers and government.”