"The reason for the change is all about extending the bee's commitment to its purpose, which long has been not only to help students improve their spelling, but also to increase the vocabulary, learn concepts and develop correct English usage, " she said.

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"The way some of the English press have blamed Urs Meier after a correct decision is completely unacceptable, " said committee president Volker Roth.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Euro 2004 | Uefa slams English press

The AQA board, which has the largest market share for English GCSE, said in an earlier statement that it had "followed the correct procedures and awarded the right grades" but understood students' disappointment.

BBC: Thousands of pupils to resit English GCSEs

There are just occasions when English is the appropriate language and there seem to be more and more occasions when that's correct.

BBC: Carwyn Jones

He said ministers only got involved in the most important decisions and the GCSE English row was an "exceptional case, on which we were able to respond quickly and decisively to correct an injustice to learners in Wales".

BBC: New body Qualifications Wales to regulate Welsh exams