13/03/2014 BBC Wales Today

I Good evening. It's emerged the Welsh Government

gave assurances to teachers 16 months ago that pupils would not be

disadvantaged by the introduction of new English language GCSE exams.

Teachers from a hundred schools have expressed anger at unexpectedly low

grades received by pupils who sat the exams in January. They say it's

left pupils, parents and teachers distraught. Here's our Education

Correspondent, Arwyn Jones. When we first revealed concerns

about January's disappointing exam results, teachers at this school

were among the first to share their concerns. One week on, and they are

still none the wiser about what went wrong. Teachers are any good

position to judge the standards of English the classroom. We will

compare students over a period of years, we will track their

performance and the professional judgement of teachers is what we

will rely on Amir getting pupils ready for exams. He is one of over

100 heads who have given evidence to their union. It was taken to a

meeting between unions and Government officials here. Among the

hundred, not a single one of them has said that they are concerned

about the bar, the challenge being raised, for their students. Every

single one of them, almost has said that we do not know where the bar

has been set. These exams were marked differently with more

emphasis on spelling and grammar. Teachers had sought and got

assurances from the Welsh Government about the changes well over a year

ago. BBC Wales has seen a copy of a letter sent in October 20 12th AV

then director of the schools departments. He was addressing

concerns by teachers about the introduction of the new guidelines.

He acknowledged that... Isn't it awful for the second year

running we have a cohort of pupils who are having the results that they

did not expect and that will impact on their chances going forward. We

ask the Education Minister for an interview, but were told that

interviews will only begin once the Welsh Government's review reports

back to him. In a statement, a spokesman said...

January's English-language exams were unique to Wales for the first

time. It was meant to be a way of regrading veal -- avoiding the

regrading fiasco we had. Earlier this week, he criticised his

party's leader, now he's been sacked. Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas has

been fired as Plaid Cymru's transport spokesman and as chair of

the Assembly's Environment Committee. It comes after he

criticised the leadership for its attack on the UK Independence Party.

The leader Leanne would make an attack on the UKIP the centre of her

speech in the Spring Conference. A vote for UKIP was, she said, a vote

against Wales and the Welsh national interest. It came after a press

release had described support for UKIP as an Welsh. It was that

rhetoric that prompted the former leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas to

describe the mode of criticism as facile. I don't know what the word

on the Welsh means. We emphasise equality, we emphasise that it

applies to all up of the people of Wales, so don't call your fellow

citizens or your colleagues names. Even if they are a party that you

disagree with. Today he was sacked. Leanne Wood said the people of

Wales... Sources have told BBC Wales the

action was taken after a number of complaints from party members

regarding Dafydd Elis-Thomas's behaviour. He says he is considering

whether to challenge the decision to strip him of the committee chair.

This sacking is obviously the result of critical comments by Dafydd

Elis-Thomas to his political leader. But it is a reflection of the

importance of unity for the party at critical time while they try to

retain their seat at the European Parliament in the actions in May.

The trial of the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons,

Nigel Evans, has been hearing from one man who says he woke up to find

the MP's hands all over him. He claims he was assaulted by the

Swansea-born MP while he slept on a sofa. The man said he wasn't keen to

report the incident at the time. Mr Evans denies all the charges against

him. A church minister from

Carmarthenshire has been charged over an allegation of historical

child abuse. 82-year-old Gwyn Ieuan Morgan will appear in court next

month accused of indecently assaulting a boy aged under 14. He's

been suspended from his two chapels. There's concern over 400 jobs at the

Land Registry in Swansea. Unions say they won't rule out going on strike

over UK Government proposals to privatise some of the service. The

Government says no decision has been made yet. If it isn't broke, why are

we fixing it? It is profitable, it is highly respected. Even the legal

profession is saying that this is a step too

The community of Machynlleth has been recognised for the support

given to the family of murdered five-year-old April Jones at the

first St David Awards. First Minister Carwyn Jones' special award

was presented by April's parents Paul and Coral at an event in

Cardiff. Singer Bryn Terfel, Olympian Jade Jones, and scientist

Dr Lyn Evans were also among those honoured.

Rugby, and Warren Gatland has made six changes from the side that lost

to England. Front row Lions Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones are dropped

to the bench and replaced by Ken Owens and Rhodri Jones. Adam Jones

is on the bench for the first time under Gatland, but prop Gethin

Jenkins keeps his place for a record 105th cap. Dan Biggar is at

fly-half, Mike Phillips at scrum-half and Liam Williams at

fullback. Despite not having any silverwear to play for, Wales are

determined to end their campaign on a high. The bus journey back on

Sunday was pretty bad, but I think we have dusted ourselves off and we

are excited to play in Cardiff. It is the best place to play in the

world. We want to play rugby and show what we are capable of. We are

obviously disappointed about Sunday, but we have a gain now to put it

right, hopefully. Hello. Most of Wales enjoyed some

sunshine today, but not everywhere. Parts of the coast stayed cold and

foggy and there is more folk to come with a Met Office warning in force.

Tonight, it will be dry with mist and fog patches that will become

more widespread, dense and places, too. Where the sky does remain

clear, it will be remain cold enough for a frost. Here is tomorrow's

chart. High pressure is keeping things settled. More isobars in the

North, more windy conditions there. Tomorrow morning, in Wales, mist and

fog will be a hazard, dense and places. Some poor visibility. But it

won't be foggy everywhere. Some places will be bright with sunshine.

Across the West of the UK, take care if you are travelling, mist and fog

patches will slowly lift. The best of the sunshine around the Midlands

and Eastern England. Further North, it will be windy with rain for parts

of Scotland. 10 Celsius in Glasgow, 16 Celsius in London. Dry in Wales

tomorrow afternoon, the best of the sunshine will be in parts of Powys.

Cloudy in the South and West. A high of 14 Celsius. Much cooler on the

coast with a westerly breeze. The breeze will keep most of the fog

away tomorrow night, temperatures staying above freezing. Saturday, a

decent day, the cloud breaking with some sunshine. Generally dry with

highs of 12 Celsius. A nice day for the rugby. More dry weather to come

on Sunday and into the start of next week. In the meantime, watch out for

those fog patches tonight and tomorrow morning.

More on our website. We will have the latest for you at 6:25am. Good

night.