Huge numbers of teachers and students in the UK will be familiar with the exam board Edexcel.
One of the largest boards in the UK alongside AQA, it is most well-known for setting and marking GCSEs, A levels and International GCSEs and A levels - but it also offers vocational qualifications, including National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Functional Skills.
What is Edexcel?
Owned by educational behemoth Pearson Plc, Edexcel is the only privately-owned exam board in the UK.
Led by chief executive Omar Abbosh, Pearson made £573m profit in 2023 - a 31 per cent increase on the previous year.
How long has Edexcel been around?
The history of Edexcel began in 1836, when a royal charter gave the University of London its first powers to conduct exams and confer degrees on its students.
The board was originally formed in 1996, after the merger of the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) and the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC), which oversaw GCSEs and A levels.
In 2003, Pearson acquired a 75 per cent stake in Edexcel, before taking over the remaining 25 per cent in 2005.
Edexcel now awards under the name “Pearson Edexcel”.
What exams and subjects does Edexcel cover?
Edexcel says it offers GCSEs in “40 subjects, ranging from art and design to Urdu”, including core subjects such as English, maths and science.
The exam board also offers an array of BTEC qualifications at varying levels, along with workplace-related NVQs in everything from food and beverage service to forklift truck operations.
Edexcel International offers international GCSEs in 37 subjects and international A levels in 21 subjects.
Has Edexcel been involved in any recent controversy?
Probably the most high-profile controversy involving an Edexcel exam paper took place in 2019, when the board withheld the exam results of 78 students after an A-level maths paper was leaked online.
The security breach, which happened before tens of thousands of students sat an Edexcel maths paper on 14 June, prompted uproar among candidates concerned they would be at an unfair disadvantage.
Following an investigation, the company confirmed that the entire paper had been shared by a number of students on a closed social media network before the exam was sat.
Along with other boards, Edexcel was caught up in controversy in 2019 after it was revealed that it was possible to pass the new maths specification A level with a mark of only 14 per cent.
However, there is regular outcry over the difficulty of questions on certain Edexcel maths exam papers, with one GCSE question described as “sadistic” by students in 2023.
Beyond the stress of exam days, questions have also been raised in the past about Edexcel’s status as a profit-making company and the fact that owner Pearson publishes textbooks and resources to support the exams. Concerns were raised that the profit motive might mean it does not always work in the interests of young people.
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