Scandal surrounding public schools and Pre-U exams

When news broke last August of an examination cheating scandal at top public schools Eton and Winchester, few in the UK had heard of Pre-U exams. When the details of the cheating were revealed, it became clear that in many independent schools, these examinations are taken instead of A-levels. As if the playing-field wasn`t sufficiently uneven, many of the privately educated are able to get their qualifications for entry to university by taking examinations which most teachers, let alone the public, didn`t know existed.

 Why do so many so-called "elite" independent schools favour Pre-U examinations in the first place? It appears these examinations were created in response to demands from private schools, because, presumably, they were not happy with the A-levels which the vast majority of 6th form students in the country take. Why? On the Pre-U website, Winchester College recommends these examinations, as they "are very liberating for teachers". In what ways? Are the courses and assessment procedures so different? Are the fees for these examinations higher than for "bog-standard" A-levels, and therefore out of the reach of most fund-starved state schools?

   What we do know is that Cambridge Assessment International Education, which is part of Cambridge University, runs the Pre-U exams and appoints the examiners, who just happen, often to be independent school teachers, which explains why there was cheating  this summer. Winchester college was forced to suspend its head of history of art , according to the Guardian (28/08/17), "after allegations he gave students prior information on exam questions". Similarly, the "deputy headmaster of academics" at Eton was forced to leave after questions were allegedly distributed to his students from the economics examination.

 So many unanswered questions, and so many doubts raised about the fairness of the education system, as if it wasn`t skewed enough already in favour of the wealthy. Never mind, here comes our trusted democratic parliamentary system to the rescue.

 Yes, the Commons` select committee on education invited the head of Eton, a director of Ofqual, and the chief executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) to answer questions last Tuesday. The Guardian headlined that the Eton head would be "grilled". Excellent! All will be revealed and we will find out the answers to our many queries about these examinations.

    Sadly, however, there was no grilling, not even a mild heating, and watching the recording of events is not recommended. The Eton head admitted that seven of his staff set papers for exams taken by their own pupils pupils, and what also was particularly relevant was that the CIE is not a member of the organisation which is responsible for examination regulations and inspections, the Joint Council for Qualifications. CIE`s chief executive admitted the number of incidents of exam malpractice had risen from 269 in 2013 to 719 this year worldwide, hardly encouraging if we are to believe in the integrity of their exams! Ofqual do not even include the CIE when reporting on malpractice! What no-one mentioned was what happens in the classroom when the teacher knows the exam questions in advance, even if the pupils don`t:; there is so much room for putting more obvious emphasis on certain topics than on the others not being examined.

      What we need to know is how Pre-U examinations are different and why so many independent schools prefer them for their pupils than the A-levels taken by the vast majority of state schools. There must be yet more advantage gained for children attending public school, as if there wasn`t enough already!