PUPILS at a County Durham school have launched a petition calling for fairness over GCSEs in state and independent schools which they claim puts them at a disadvantage.

The petition set up by three Year 11 students from Greenfield Community College, in Newton Aycliffe, has attracted more than 450 signatures and has the backing of their headteacher and MP.

It calls for equality for GCSE English Language and English Literature between the maintained - state schools and academies - and independent sectors.

The latter currently enables pupils to opt to sit the IGCSE which allows for 40 per cent of coursework to count towards the final mark plus the opportunity to sit the exam twice, first in January and then in June.

Meanwhile in the maintained sector the reformed GCSE, introduced last year, allows for only 100 per cent examinations towards the final grade, and just one chance to sit it in June.

In a letter to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Standards, Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, who has backed the pupils’ campaign, wrote: “The difference does not provide a level playing field for pupils and could disadvantage those sitting the exam in the maintained sector because they do not have the option of course work.

“I do not believe it is right that one sector has the option and the other does not. This is fundamentally unfair, especially when both GCSEs and IGCSEs are recognised by employers and universities.

“The situation is also unfair because it would seem the option is only awarded to those pupils whose parents can afford to by-pass state schools for their children by paying for their education, giving them a further ‘leg-up’ on the careers ladder.”

According to education consultant Christine Thomas, of Everything English Education, colleges and universities recognise IGCSEs but they will not be included in league tables by Ofqual.

She said: “As IGCSE can no longer be included in performance tables (from September 2017), state schools cannot allow students to take these examinations.”

Ignoring league tables, she added, would leave them at risk and could trigger Ofsted inspections.

Melissa Foster, 15, and 16-year-olds Christina Davis and Aidan Wong said they believed the system was unfair and wanted to “make a stand”.

Executive headteacher David Priestley said: “We think it’s fantastic that the students want to stand up for fairness. We encourage a student voice all the way through so it’s great to se they have picked up a national issue.”

He added there should be a balance between coursework and exams as they require different skill sets, while having to sit several exams in June could have a serious impact on pupils’ mental health.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said schools still had the option to enter pupils for the IGCSE although the government had decided it will not count them in league tables. The preferred option is the reformed GCSEs which are being phased in.

Mr Wilson is expected to present the petition to parliament in February.

Find the petition at www.change.org/u/416130790