A pupil in an independent school was 136 times more likely to sit an IGCSE than his or her counterpart in a state-funded school. Analysis of entries in all subjects shows that three out of every four IGCSEs taken were sat in private schools. A DoE spokesperson admitted that the new exams were tougher than the ones being widely used in private schools. Now the government has removed most IGCSEs from school performance tables, which effectively means state school pupils can no longer take these qualifications. Pupils at schools including the £37,296-per year boarding school Sevenoaks School and £17,040-per year Abbey School in Reading were only entered for IGCSEs.

Source: The Guardian December 29, 2018 22:52 UTC