Shakespeare exam row after pupils told texts in advance

Students are being told which acts of which of the playwright’s works they would be questioned on up to six months in advance. The disclosures, which were published this year, have led to accusations that GCSE standards are slipping. Educationalists said specifying which acts of the plays would appear would encourage “Shakespeare-lite” being taught in “bite-sized chunks”. The development comes after claims that teachers are giving students exam questions before they sit GCSEs and A-levels following secret conversations with examiners. Earlier this month, three examiners from WJEC, the Welsh exam board, and Edexcel were suspended after being caught on film by The Daily Telegraph making controversial comments about the exam system. They have all denied any wrongdoing. Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has ordered an inquiry into the allegations and has threatened to ban teachers' exam seminars. Julien Chenery, from the Shakespeare 4 Kidz campaign, said: “It seems we are moving towards a Shakespeare-light approach in our education system which goes against what any good education commentator wants to see.” Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary, said: “The idea that Shakespeare should be taught in bite-sized chunks goes against the nature of developing an understanding of the joys of literature.” A spokesman for Edexcel said: “Students sitting our English GCSE are clearly required to demonstrate an understanding of the whole play or novel they studied. “For certain questions, particular acts from individual Shakespeare plays are highlighted in advance. This is entirely proper and within Ofqual's guidance.”