Association for Language Learning (ALL) on 2024 GCSE Results

The Association for Language Learning (ALL) has responded positively to the recent adjustments announced by Ofqual concerning the grading of GCSE languages, specifically French, German, and Spanish. These adjustments aim to align grading standards among the three languages, completing a process initiated in 2019 but delayed by the pandemic. The first phase was implemented in 2023, with the final phase now completed in June 2024.

Key Changes in Grading:

• French and German: The adjustments required exam boards to make positive changes to grading, which has resulted in an increase in the percentage of students achieving higher grades. In French, the percentage of students attaining grade 7 or above rose from 26% in 2023 to 28% in 2024. For German, the percentage increased more significantly from 27.6% to 32.1%.
• Spanish: Spanish, which had already seen adjustments, saw a smaller rise in grade 7 or above, moving from 26.1% to 26.7%.
• Grade 4 and Above: The percentage of students achieving grade 4 or above also improved slightly across all three languages. French rose from 71.2% in 2023 to 71.7% in 2024, German from 77.2% to 77.8%, and Spanish from 70% to 70.5%.

Considerations:

ALL emphasizes that when comparing raw percentages of grades awarded, it’s crucial to consider the differing ability profiles of students taking each language. For example, Spanish generally has a broader profile of students, while German tends to have a higher proportion of students with high prior attainment, affecting the distribution of grades.

Entry Numbers:

• Spanish: Entries for Spanish have increased from 120,198 to 127,832, a growth slightly above the overall increase in student entries from 2023 to 2024 of 4.7%.
• French: French entries are now almost identical to Spanish, with 129,026 students.
• German: German entries stand at 34,708, reflecting a rise but less than the overall increase rate.

These adjustments are seen as a positive step towards fairness in grading across languages and aim to encourage students to continue studying French and German alongside Spanish. The increases in entries suggest a growing interest in languages, although Spanish continues to lead in popularity.

Overall, ALL views these grading changes as beneficial for students and reflective of ongoing efforts to create parity and encourage language learning in UK schools. https://www.all-languages.org.uk/news/2024-gcse-results/