02/09/2020 Regulator says it warned against exam grading system
Ofqual tells MPs exam grading system was a fundamental mistake; Lockdown easing u-turn
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1800 HEADS
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1800 HEADS
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News at six o'clock. This is Corrie Corfield. Good Evening.The chairman of the exams regulator in England has said it warned the Education Secretary that cancelling this year's A-levels and GCSEs was the "worst-case scenario". He said Gavin Williamson took the decision to scrap the exams "without further consultation".The Chancellor has assured Conservative MPs there won't be a "horror show" of tax rises to pay for the coronavirus pandemic.The government has abandoned plans to ease local lockdown restrictions in parts of Greater Manchester, after local council leaders said they should stay.Scientists in Germany say the Russian opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, was poisoned with a nerve agent of the same type - novichok - used to target a Russian defector in Salisbury.An independent review of the GMB union has concluded that bullying and harassment are endemic -- and it's institutionally sexist.Also tonight, the black hole that blows a hole in scientific thinking.
Duration: 01:00
Q Ofqual -Elaine Dunkley
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Q Ofqual -Elaine Dunkley
The government's handling of this summer's exams has come under further scrutiny, after it emerged that the regulator in England advised the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to press ahead with A Levels and GCSEs in the days before he scrapped them. The exams were replaced with a standardised system of calculated grades, which led to many predicted A Level results being downgraded. The chairman of Ofqual, Roger Taylor, said the body had warned the government that such a system would be the "worst case scenario". The process was ultimately abandoned - with students given their predicted grades. Mr Taylor was speaking to the Commons Education Committee. Our Education Correspondent Elaine Dunkley was listening:
Duration: 03:04
Q PMQS-Jessica Parker
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Q PMQS-Jessica Parker
The Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer strongly criticised the government's handling of the exams, during the first prime minister's questions since the summer recess. He said the change of policy was one of several government u-turns whch raised "fundamental questions" about Boris Johnson's competence. Here's our political correspondent Jessica Parker:
Duration: 03:59
Q Manchester-Dominic Hughes
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Q Manchester-Dominic Hughes
The government has decided against lifting restrictions in parts of Greater Manchester, because of a significant increase in the number of coronavirus cases. People in Bolton and Trafford had been told that two households would be allowed to meet from today - but that's now been withdrawn. Local council leaders had warned the government it was too early to ease the measures. From Greater Manchester, our Health correspondent Dominic Hughes, sent this report.
Duration: 02:05
UK Deaths
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UK Deaths
A further ten people across the UK have died within twenty-eight days of a positive test for Covid-19. It brings the total number of recorded deaths to forty-one thousand, five hundred and fourteen.
Duration: 00:12
Q Navalny-Frank Gardner
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Q Navalny-Frank Gardner
Germany says the prominent Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny, was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent - similar to that used in an attack in Salisbury. Mr Navalny fell ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow last month - and remains in a serious condition in a German hospital. The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Rabb, has urged Russia to "tell the truth". The Kremlin says it's currently unable to give a proper response to the statement from Germany. Our security correspondent, Frank Gardner, reports:
Duration: 01:56
GMB bullying
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GMB bullying
An independent report on the culture of one of the UK's largest unions -- the GMB -- concludes that bullying, misogyny and harassment are endemic within the organisation.
Duration: 01:27
Lady Cumberlege
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Lady Cumberlege
The Conservative peer -- Lady Cumberlege -- has criticised the government in the House of Lords for not introducing any of her recommendations around medical devices and medicines. It follows a two-year review, which found that three treatments had severely harmed thousands of women and their children. Sophie Hutchinson reports:
Duration: 01:53
Q Proms-David Sillito
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Q Proms-David Sillito
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has changed its mind and decided that Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory will both be sung at the Last Night of the Proms. The initial decision to use only instrumental versions provoked fierce criticism. Our Arts Correspondent, David Sillito, has been finding out more.
Duration: 00:50
Q Aid-James Landale
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Q Aid-James Landale
The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab has insisted the government remains committed to its target of spending 0-point-7 per cent of national income on foreign aid. Mr Raab was speaking on the day the Foreign Office was formally merged with the Department for International Development. He dismissed reports the aid budget -- which stands at 15-billion-pounds -- could be cut to pay for more defence and intelligence spending. Here’s our diplomatic correspondent, James Landale:
Duration: 00:34
Black hole
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Black hole
Scientists have discovered a black hole so large that it challenges current theories of physics. It's more than a hundred times the mass of the sun. The researchers who've been observing it believe it will change our understanding of how black holes are created. More details from our Science correspondent, Pallab Ghosh:
Duration: 01:43
Q Police Assaults-Dominic Casciani
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Q Police Assaults-Dominic Casciani
Police chiefs are calling for tougher penalties for people who assault officers, after a survey suggested that nearly forty percent had been attacked while they were on duty in the past year. Research for the National Police Chiefs Council found more than a third of officers were unhappy with the safety training they'd received. The council is calling for biting or spitting at an officer to be taken into account during sentencing, and it wants to see a new offence of targeting an officer with a vehicle. Our home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani reports:
Duration: 01:55
Q Covid
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Q Covid
A major study has shown that cheap, readily-available steroid drugs can save the lives of some patients who are critically ill with Covid-19. The findings of the research -- which was coordinated by the World Health Organization -- are already being implemented by doctors in the UK. This report from our Health and Science correspondent, James Gallagher:
Duration: 02:04
Q Je suis Charlie Hebdo
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Q Je suis Charlie Hebdo
14 people on trial in paris
Duration: 01:51
Foreign aid
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Foreign aid
Rabb and spending
Duration: 01:44
City Figures-
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City Figures-
In the City, the one hundred share index closed up 79 points at 5,941 On Wall Street a short time ago, the Dow Jones was up 258 points, at 28,904 On the currency markets, the pound is down a fraction of a cent against the dollar, at 1 dollar and 33 cents Against the euro, Sterling is up slightly at 1 euro and 13 cents; making a euro worth 88.9 pence.
Duration: 00:27
Ivor Novello
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Ivor Novello
The winners of this year's Ivor Novello awards -- which celebrate excellence in song writing and composing -- have been announced. Jamie Cullum's track 'The Age of Anxiety', which reflects on his friendship with the late Amy Winehouse, was named best song musically and lyrically. Joan Armatrading was honoured with an Academy Fellowship for her contribution to music.
Duration: 00:20
Prince Harry Netflix
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Prince Harry Netflix
production company
Duration: 00:17
Strictly
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Strictly
The Olympic gold medal-winning boxer, Nicola Adams, will make Strictly Come Dancing history when she competes in this year's competiton as part of a same sex couple. She said it was a "really important" decision that was a big step for the show. Our entertainment correspondent, Lizo Mzimba has been finding out more.
Duration: 01:54
END HEADS
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END HEADS
The headlines again .. The chairman of the exams regulator in England has told MPs it advised the government to press ahead with this year's GCSEs and A Levels -- before the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson decided to scrap them.The Chancellor has assured Conservative MPs there won't be a "horror show" of tax rises to pay for the coronavirus pandemic.The government has reversed its plans to ease lockdown restrictions in parts of Greater Manchester, after local council leaders said they should remain.Scientists in Germany say the Russian opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent -- the same type used in the Salisbury attack on a former Russian agent.An independent review of the GMB union has concluded that bullying and harassment are endemic -- and it's institutionally sexist.The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has said Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory will both be sung at the Last Night of the Proms - reversing an earlier decision to include only instrumental versions.Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News.
Duration: 00:57
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- Wed 2 Sep 2020 18:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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