13/03/2014 BBC Wales Today

early 1990s. That's all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

On You're watching Wales Today. Our top

story: The row over exams intensifies. Teachers say confidence

is being eroded as it emerges the Welsh Government assured schools

changes to GCSEs wouldn't disadvantage pupils.

We'll be taking a closer look at the English language paper proving so

controversial. One of Plaid Cymru's most prominent

politicians, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, is sacked as transport spokesman days

after criticising the party's leader.

We use them when buying a new home but concern tonight over 400 jobs at

the Land Registry in Swansea. In tonight's sport: Six changes in

the Wales team for the Sic Nations final against Scotland. Rhys

Priestland, Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones are all relegated to the

bench. And I'm at the very first St David

Awards, celebrating the remarkable achievements made by people from all

walks of life and from all over Wales.

BBC Wales has learnt that the Welsh Government gave assurances 16 months

ago to teachers that pupils would not be disadvantaged by the

introduction of new English language GCSE exams. Teachers from 100

schools have expressed anger at unexpectedly low results received by

pupils who sat the new English GCSE 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 last week teachers at the

school were among the first to share their concerns. A week on and they

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

position to judge the standards of English in the classroom and the

performances of pupils. We will compare students over a period of

years, we will track their performance. The professional

judgement of teachers is what we relying on when he gets pupils

ready. The big change here is in the results. That has changed. He is one

of 100 head teachers who have given union -- evidence to their unions.

Over 100 schools have been entered to express their detailed

frustration, concern and confusion. Amongst the hundred, not a single

one of them have said they are concerned about the art, the

challenge being raised for their students. Every single one of them

almost has said we don't 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 Bush government

about the changes well over a year ago. -- the Welsh Government. The

BBC has seen a letter who was addressing concerns by teachers

about the interdiction of the new guidelines. He acknowledged steps

had been taken with regard to the interdiction of the new

qualifications were an usual and unsettling. Before adding, he would

have liked that he will revised qualifications were available to

schools for the start of the year but these were exceptional

circumstances. The letter concludes, the Welsh Government will be closely

monitoring the interdiction, delivery and awarding of this new

qualification to ensure that learners are not in Filey advantaged

or disadvantage. -- unfairly. This is an example of the failure of the

Welsh Labour government to get a grip on education. Isn't it awful

that for the second year running we have a cohort of rubles who are

having the results they did not expect. -- cohort of pupils. We

asked the Education Minister for an interview and we were told Huw Lewis

would only do interviews was the worst governments's review reports

back to him at the end of the month. -- the Welsh Government. There is no

denying that have been some important issues across Wales which

need to be addressed but the impact is not severe across all schools.

Jenni Lees English language exams were unique to Wales for the first

time. It was meant to be a way of avoiding the regrading fiasco we saw

18 months ago. The pupils and teachers across Wales asked to

coming to terms with why the results were so much lower than expected.

So, thousands have sat the exam but what was in it and where have pupils

lost marks? We sent Caroline Evans back to school to take a look at the

paper and ask teachers and pupils what they think went wrong.

This is catered for students you would expect to get a EC trade or

lower. This is the higher paper for pupils you would expect to get a sea

grade or higher. 120 U-boats were put in for the language GCSE exam

here. Only 19% got a secret rebel. He told me where it went wrong. You

can see that is an extract here for the students to read and there are

three questions, 310 mark questions for that answer. The expected to

spend approximately an hour reading and answering these questions so

these are extended answer questions. Is this a new type of paper? Not

really. The whole format is similar to the former we moved away from

about four years ago. It is only the questions and the wording that are

what we would expect them to be. You feel you have been able to prepare

their students for this because it isn't a surprise. Where has the

failure happened? It is difficult to answer that question. We don't know.

The moderators report doesn't leave me any guidance as to where we have

gone wrong or not just us, the whole of Wales aims to have in struggling

with the same question. It is nothing new under paper, there is

nothing new in the moderators report. We have prepared students

for this pile of exam for years. Bash for this style. -- for this

style of exam for years. The 11th arrived English. Some were predicted

a grades but came out with the grades. They told me they feel their

futures are being thrown away. I am demotivated. You don't want to do

the exam because you think you are going to fail. It has taken away the

grades we should have had. Everyone is telling us we need to do better

but when we do better they are not better still. To do English language

at a level still and if I get a low-grade and was able to do of

course. That affect my future because it will affect my future

prospects. They are revising verbs. The waiting to see Derek some papers

that they can find out what went wrong. Until then, they say no one

can really move on. Our dedication corresponded joins us now. --

education correspondence. We are no closer to finding out what went

wrong. Teachers say they weren't told enough about the changes. They

say we were given assurances by the Welsh Government that pupils would

not be at a disadvantage because of the changes. The education Minister

says one of two things. Firstly, wait for my review to come out at

the end of the month before making any accusations. Secondly, he throws

it acts to the teachers and headteachers. -- he throws it back.

More and more headteachers are coming out and expressing their

concerns. It is a stalemate because we don't know what went wrong and

until these two reports come back we won't know. The exam board have

reports coming back, hopefully next week. In the world 's governments's

reports coming back at the end of the month. There is concern about

the subjects. Teachers and parents have been getting Internet asking

for other subjects. Nothing else will change over the summer. It is

worth bearing in mind that as of last year for courses like history

and religious education, spelling and grammar discount 5%. That won't

be new this year, for parents and pupils the need not worried about

that element. 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.

Our political editor Nick Servini has been following developments.

This all goes back to Friday when the Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood

made a direct attack on UK sailing a vote for UKIP in the European

elections would be a vote against Wales and against the Welsh national

interest. The day after that, Dafydd Elis-Thomas describe the mode of

that attack is facile and that UKIP deserve to be treated more seriously

than it was by the party leadership are stuck at the time that criticism

was stripped away but clearly the leadership of taken it very

seriously. Lord Elis-Thomas jointly. As a matter of your political

experience, you surely can't be surprised you have been sacked for

criticising your leader in one of her pics each is? What concerned me

was the word then Welsh which appeared in a press release that day

before. I have got no support nor patience for UKIP, I am a strong

European. But we need to look to how we elect chairs of committees for

the Assembly because they are currently in a lift of party groups.

In Westminster they are elected by secret wallets. It is the intention

of the party to strip you of the chair of the environment committee.

In terms of the party and that criticism of UKIP, I spoke to a

number of European candidates and they just believed a vote for UKIP

is against the Welsh national interest. I don't mind that

expression, but I do not like the expression un-Welsh. Has Plaid Cymru

got a problem with defining Welsh and is? -- Welshness? I don't

understand what this issue is. Young people talked about the mixed

identities they had. They can be was, British, they can be Welsh and

European, this is not an issue. Identity is not an issue, I don't

leave in -- I believe international politics. Are you going to challenge

that? It is the vote in a Assembly. I shall consider over the weekend

whether I should object. I don't want to waste the Assembly is time

to stop I went to see if we can have a real independence for chairs of

committees. Back to you in the studio.

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 on

reporting 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. Helping scientists discover new

medicines and develop green energy, those are the aims of new research

networks set up today. The Welsh Government hopes it will help the

quality of scientific research here. It's investing ?21 million into the

project. There is concern tonight over 400 jobs at the Land Registry

in Swansea. The PCS Union won't rule out going

on strike over UK Government proposals to part privatise the Land

Registry. Land Registry have kept records of property ownership since

1862. It is information on 23 million properties and it is all

available to the public. Land Registry as part of the UK

governments's Department for business, innovation and skills. It

is self funding. When a house is sold in new ownership needs to be

recorded, it makes money that way. But the UK Government is examining

options to part privatise the organisation. That is raised

concerns in Swansea where more than 400 and 30p will work in Land

Registry's Wales office. This woman is one of them. It is a difficult

and stressful time for people here. We're not knowing what is going on

with jobs. With the ongoing government consultation into the

future of the Land Registry, and how that is going to pan out. The

proposal is to introduce a new service. In Egypt eight in

Westminster, the business minister said it was government policy. -- in

a debate in Westminster. If it ain't broke, why are we fixing it? It is

highly respected. Even the legal profession is saying this is a step

too far. Land Registry provides an essential service for estate agent.

They say any private company that steps" have to maintain the current

standards. Although the wonder if any changes necessary. As far as we

are concerned, there is no change needed. The information provided is

always accurate. I think the costs are going down in the next few

months, so we're quite happy with it as it is. A consultation period into

the future of Land Registry is used to end next week. The business

department says no decision will be taken until all responses have been

considered and it is impossible to fully understand the impact on staff

until then. Still ahead tonight: Mike Phillips

and Dan Biggar will start for Wales as Warren Gatland names his side to

face Scotland. Are you a member of a sports club?

More of us are joining but there's concern tonight over wider

participation levels. Some parents are being denied access

to justice in the family courts because of changes to the legal aid

system. That's according to the Law Society. BBC Wales has spoken to one

woman who had to represent herself in court against experienced

solicitors following the changes. Paul Heaney reports.

Barristers protesting about cuts to free legal help for those who can't

afford it and potentially fewer clients for them. This was about

legal aid for criminal cases, but the UK Government's reforms are

having an impact on civil and family cases too. Back in Wales, this woman

is fighting to keep custody of her child. She spoke to me anonymously

to protect the child's identity. She's representing herself in the

family court up against an experienced solicitor.

Everything was all emotions. I had to come to a point in myself

thinking, sort herself out and do your best on that day. Whatever is

going to happen is going to happen because there is nothing else I can

do. It is frightening, not worrying, Fry them. -- frightening.

Family courts decide who should look after children in custody disputes.

They're not open to the public - journalists cannot identify anyone

involved. Here, a court artist gives an impression of what this case

witnessed by BBC Wales looks like. A father represented by an experienced

lawyer. His legal fees paid for by the government because he can't

afford them and crucially his application for legal aid was before

the rules changed. The woman we've spoken to argues her own case for

custody of the child against the solicitor. That's because she

applied for legal aid after the rules change in April last year.

Many in the legal profession say those changes are unfair. It is

causing people to turn away from the justice system, which in effect is

to deny them access to justice. There are cases where children are

not seeing their parents because the parent who does not have residents

of the isn't able to apply to the courts foreign order. We have made

certain that anyone who has been the victim of domestic violence will

have access to the solicitor. It wasn't possible to do it for every

case and some people will be encouraged to use mediation. That is

perfectly true. We should be upfront about it. We do not have the money

to continue. But this woman's fight for custody isn't over and many

other remain anxious about having to argue their own case in the

complicated world of family law. Wales end their Six Nations campaign

on Saturday. Claire's here with news of who'll face the Scots.

Good evening. 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. Luke

Charteris also returns from injury. Scotland have asked for the roof to

be shut on Saturday and despite not having any silverware to play for,

Wales are determined to end their campaign on a high.

The bus journey back on Sunday was pretty bad. We have dusted ourselves

off and we're excited to play in Cardiff. We love playing in the

Millennium Stadium, it is the best plates to play rugby in the world.

We were disappointed with the way we did that on Sunday. We have got a

game on Saturday to put it right. Initial figures seen by BBC Wales

suggest the number of us joining sports clubs will rise again this

year. A record 500,000 people became members in both 2012 and 2013. But

some sports are struggling and there are warnings tonight that wider

sports participation isn't growing quickly enough. Our sports news

correspondent, Gareth Lewis reports. Wales might not strike you as a

hotbed of table tennis players but the sport is picking up pace. It has

broken through the 3000 mark for club members this year with an

appeal across the generations. Here in Bridgend, this boy was introduced

to the sport by his grandfather. You get to go to a lot of different

countries and they have been to load of countries like Barcelona, France

and Ireland, Spain. In about ten years that is my long-term aim, I

wanted come in the Commonwealth Games. In the table tennis has a cut

in funding but here, they have been working hard to grow from the bottom

up. I do a primary school to try to get the membership up. I think we

have achieved that. We have been doing that for two or three years

now. It is very proactive in trying to develop youngsters. It is just

not table tennis, swim Wales has made a splash. They have 25,000

members this year. Gymnastics has seen a 65% jump in female members to

almost 10,000. It is a flip side, sports night Adlington admit a big

challenge to turn casual participants to club members. Bowles

and snooker have concerns about attracting new members. The Assembly

's communities committee has introduced a report by -- into

sports participation. The numbers have remained static for a decade.

It was the Welsh Government to assess the cuts of councils cuts. It

has concerns over barriers in the way of women and non-white

communities. Launching the report at a gym in Cardiff, the committee

wants our activity levels to becoming heavyweight elliptical

issue. The participation levels, the report says it is too slow. Although

there has been some progress things need to change a bit quicker. That

is the basic message to the Welsh Government. Those receptive to the

message are getting involved in sport drawing in those less

convinced is a tougher shot to follow.

Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas retained his yellow jersey after

stage five of Paris-Nice, despite finishing in the pack today. He

finished 16th, two seconds behind the stage winner but he still leads

the overall race by three seconds with three days to go.

The red carpet is being rolled out for the first-ever St David Awards.

The honours recognise people from all walks of life who've made a

difference to Wales, from community volunteers to scientists and

musicians. 24 finalists are in the running for

the awards and Carwyn Jones is at the ceremony for us this evening.

Thanks, Tomos. Welcome to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama,

where people have already started to take their seats for the main event

in the auditorium behind me. The St David Awards are effectively Wales'

very own honours system. There are nine categories including bravery,

sport, culture and innovation. The 24 finalists come from all walks of

life and from all corners of Wales. But what they have in common is that

they've proved an inspiration and their achievements made a real

difference to Welsh life. I am joined by two finalists, but through

three and 27. You are a cancer survivor and you have dedicated your

life to raising funds. -- Lara Cowpe and Tim Rhys Davies. I found out

about teenage Cancer trust and I had never thought about teenagers and

young adults having comes and I have had it myself. I wanted to use my

story to raise money for the cause and for the work they do. What would

it mean to you if you were to win an award? It'd be a great honour and

it's be a great achievement not just some eBay is for the people who have

supported me, my family and friends. -- not just for me but for

the people. Good luck tonight. I am joined by a man who needs very

little introduction. You are an MBE, honours are something you were used

to. You don't get used to them! I was the heat to be given an MBE last

autumn. This is special. It was voted for by the people in Wales and

the fact that it is a Welsh award. It is on the ring people from every

aspect of Welsh life. I feel honoured to be standing here.

Including arts and culture. Indeed, I believe passionately in our

culture. It is an important thing in Welsh life. We had a land of poets

and singers. I am glad the government is honouring all aspects

of Welsh life. Thank you both for joining me. Congratulations and well

done. We will bring you details of all the winners tonight at our ten

20 5pm bulletin. Carwyn Jones, thank you very much for joining us

tonight. Time now for the weather forecast

with Derek. Most of Wales saw the sun today but

not everywhere. Some places remained foggy, especially on the coast with

a big difference in temperature. 15C in sunny Tredegar but only six

dgrees in Rhyl. And there's more fog to come tonight and tomorrow morning

with a Met Office warning in force. The fog dense in places with further

travel disruption. So a fine and clear start for most of the country

this evening but mist and fog patches will form again overnight.

Turning cold again too. Close to freezing with a frost where the sky

remains clear. Tomorrow's chart shows a ridge of high pressure

across southern Britain. Mist and fog patches will be a hazard if

you're travelling. The fog dense in places. However, some places will be

fog free and wake-up to sunshine especially on high ground. During

the day, the mist and fog will slowly lift. It will brighten-up.

The best of the sunshine in the east. Parts of the south and west

grey and misty on some coasts. Top temperature around 14 Celsius. Much

cooler on the coast. 8C on Gower with a westerly breeze. In Wrexham

tomorrow, mist and fog will lift leaving a bright afternoon. A high

of 13 degrees in Overton. Tomorrow night, dry and less cold and with a

bit more breeze and cloud cover fog will be less of a problem. Into the

weekend, Saturday is dry with a noticeable breeze. The cloud

breaking with some sunshine. A nice day in Cardiff for the rugby and

fairly mild. More dry weather on Sunday too with a breeze. The best

of the sunshine in the south east and the Marches. Temps 10C in

Bangor. 14 in Monmouth. More dry weather on Monday but we may see

some rain later in the week. We'll have an update for you at

8:00pm and again after the BBC News at ten.