Huge relief at grades U-turn

A-LEVEL and GCSE students across Hyndburn are breathing a sigh of relief after this week’s government U-turn on its controversial grading system.

Following huge criticism from students, headteachers and a backlash by Tory MPs - including Hyndburn’s Sara Britcliffe - grades will now be based on teachers’ assessments rather than the controversial algorithm by regulator Ofqual.

The change will also apply to GCSE results in England, which were due to be released this Thursday.

Students who were awarded a higher grade by the moderation process will be allowed to keep it, but for many pupils, their teachers’ predictions could see their grades increased.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the process as a ‘fiasco’, tweeting: “The government has had months to sort out exams and has now been forced into a screeching U-turn after days of confusion.”

Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe posted on her Facebook page a photo of a letter she wrote to Mr Williamson on Sunday, expressing her concerns at the system.

Miss Britcliffe said she had been in contact with St Christopher’s CE High and Haslingden High School, who had both expressed “dismay” to her about the current situation.

The letter stated: “I have absolute trust in my local teachers and head teachers and firmly believe that, under these circumstances, teachers’ assessments should have been used.”

On her Facebook page she posted: “Since Thursday, I have spent most of my time talking to devastated pupils, parents, teachers and headteachers about the A-level results and helping them as much as I possibly can. This year has been hard enough on our pupils and it is vital that we do everything in our power to support those who have been affected.

“Nothing can make up for exams, but under these circumstances, we need to make sure we have a system that still supports them.”

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said he was “sorry for the distress this has caused”.

“This has been an extraordinarily difficult year for young people who were unable to take their exams,” he said in a statement.

“We worked with Ofqual to construct the fairest possible model, but it is clear that the process of allocating grades has resulted in more significant inconsistencies than can be resolved through an appeals process.

“We now believe it is better to offer young people and parents certainty by moving to teacher assessed grades for both A and AS level and GCSE results.

“I am sorry for the distress this has caused but hope this announcement will now provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve.”

Ofqual chairman Roger Taylor apologised for the “uncertainty and anxiety” caused by the fiasco.

The U-turn would not apply to BTECs, he added.

There remain concerns that the U-turn will now cause issues for students looking for a university place.