Ulster Unionist education spokesperson Sandra Overend has said that the decision of English GCSE exam providers to discontinue offering their exams in Northern Ireland is inevitable, because of the local Minister's recent decision not to follow changes to the grading system.

Mrs Overend said:

"In November, when Minister O'Dowd made an announcement in the Assembly that Northern Ireland would not follow the grading changes in GCSEs being introduced in England, I warned that this could lead to a situation whereby the open market for GCSEs and therefore greater choice, could be ended.  With the decision of the English exam boards to discontinue offering their exams here, this is exactly what is happening. Effectively an unhealthy and uncompetitive monopoly is being created for the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) in exam provision here.  

“It looks to me that there has been a deliberate decision taken by a politically motivated Minister, to drive the big English providers out of the local exam market.  He is clearly not disappointed by the exam boards’ decision at all, and has left schools in a very difficult position, in terms of the GCSE courses they can offer their students. 

“In November, whilst the DUP welcomed the Sinn Fein decision to retain the alphabetical grading system, the Ulster Unionist Party warned of the consequences.  For 3 years we have consistently stated that it was imperative that we retain parity with England in GCSE grading.  The decision to break parity and retain the alphabetical grading system was wrong, and our students are going to be disadvantaged.  The Executive should intervene because of the wider implications of the decision, but given the DUP’s initial welcome of the decision, this seems unlikely.”