Exams row: the knives are out

Controversy over downgrading of this year's A–levels turned into an extraordinary public row between Education Minister Estelle Morris and exams watchdog Sir Williams Stubbs.

The man conducting the grading inquiry was forced to intervene to insist today that he would not allow any interference in his investigation.

With the leading participants trading verbals blows in a series of media interviews, observers believed that either Sir William or Ms Morris will have to go. Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith led calls for the Education Secretary to resign.

Mike Tomlinson, who is conducting the A-levels inquiry, spoke out after Ms Morris was accused of improperly intervening in the inquiry by Sir William, chairman of the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority.

In a statement outside the inquiry headquarters in Westminster, Mr Tomlinson said: "Whatever happened late yesterday afternoon and evening has, in my considered view, had no impact upon my inquiry, nor will I allow it to do so.

"I have not resigned, nor do I intend to do so. I do intend to fulfil the remit to report, initially, my preliminary findings by the end of this week.

"I owe this to the students who took their A–levels this year. They are, for me, the prime focus of my considerations."

He added: "I am completely satisfied that my inquiry remains independent. If I believed for one moment this independence was compromised then I would, indeed, resign."

The grade–fixing row escalated following claims by Sir William that Ms Morris had interfered by ordering plans for all this year's A–level entries to be re–graded even before Mr Tomlinson's inquiry was finished. He also claimed that Mr Tomlinson was considering resigning from the inquiry.

Ms Morris does not have the legal authority to order a re–grade – that is the job of the QCA.

Last night, Sir William dramatically claimed that he had become aware of her "improper" intervention some hours after issuing a self–defence of his own role in the affair.

Mr Tomlinson was appointed last Thursday to head an inquiry into the grade–fixing claims, independent of the QCA.

He was given the job by Ms Morris, who has insisted all along there has been no political interference in this year's exam results.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast today, Sir William said he was concerned about the integrity of the system.

He said: "I'm not concerned how I, personally, come out of the inquiry.

"I'm concerned about the integrity of the whole system. I've had a lifetime in the senior echelons of education administration in this country.

"I have no political ambitions – all I wish to see is integrity ruling in these matters."

Sir William, who many believe may lose his job in the wake of the controversy, also suggested the Government was seeking to undermine him.

Asked if there had been a whispering campaign against him, Sir William, during a round of media interviews this morning, told Sky News: "There probably is, if we know the way in which government departments work in our modern society. It would not surprise me if that was going on."

Ms Morris, who also launched a media offensive, denied Sir William's claims about interference, saying her department was simply considering contingency plans.

Ms Morris also refused to say whether Sir William would remain in his job.

Asked whether she had ordered the re–marking of papers, she said: "No, absolutely not, absolutely not. I have asked my officials to speak to exam boards."

She said: "My responsibility is to make sure whatever he (Mr Tomlinson) says, we are in a fit state of responsibility to respond. I hope very much that he comes back and says there is not that big problem. But I have to consider all the options."

She said it was her responsibility to offer "reassurances to young people and their parents as to what will happen and how long it might take."

Ms Morris said her officials had spoken to exam boards, clearing houses and the QCA so that they were "as ready as they can be" for any of the report's recommendations.

She added: "I can't see any sets of circumstances in which re–marking of papers will take place."

Pressed further on the future of Sir William, she said: "I am not even thinking about that. I have to concentrate on what matters."

Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith today joined calls for embattled Education Secretary Estelle Morris to resign.

"Her position is quite untenable. She should either be sacked or resign.

"Fiddling around with the inquiry, the A–levels scandal, which has wrecked so many children's lives – there's been endless chaos. It's time for her to go.

"She can't run her department if she is at war with the people that implement her policies."