HEADTEACHERS last night said they were dismayed by the decision not to remark controversial English GCSEs .

Exams regulator Ofqal yesterday said papers for those who took the exam in January had been marked too leniently.

Grade boundaries were changed for those who took it in June but Ofqal said these were marked fairly.

Pupils can resit them in November, the regulator said, but grade boundaries will remain the same.

Last night headteachers said it was unfair for two sets of pupils to be marked differently.

Dr Fiona Hammans, headteacher at Banbury Academy, formerly Banbury School, wanted papers remarked for about 20 pupils.

The resits are too late, she said, as pupils have had to make a decision on their step into further education.

She said: “It is a right mess.

“I know of some youngsters who have not got the course they were expecting because they didn’t have their English C.

“Children’s life plans have taken a very different turn.”

Chris Wild, head at Abingdon’s Larkmead School, said: “I am really disappointed.

“A November resit is not going to be practical for schools or students. “They should revert to the January grade boundaries.”

It is the first year pupils took a reformed English GCSE, where they took English language, literature or a combined course.

Ofqal said examiners were “better equipped” to mark June’s papers as more took them than in January. But it said regrading June exams would “contradict our responsibility to maintain standards over time”.

Remarked grades would also not be comparable with previous years, it said.