The new GCSEs are harder but the grades remain the same

‘There is a widespread naive acceptance of a myth created by government spin that Michael Gove’s reformed GCSEs have created a “rigorous” educational “gold standard”,’ writes Peter Thomas. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAImportant details seem to be missing from the coverage of the changes to the GCSE model and the inclusion of IGCSE into the argument (Letters, 27 August). GCSE grades are, and have always been, decided by norm referencing: papers are marked,