Heads say students are not statistics

Head teachers and MPs had criticised the Government for initially not allowing students their predicted grades.

At the start of the week Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch called for a review after results were downgraded by standardisation. She said: “Pupils should be given the marks their teachers predicted and if it inflates grades then “so what”.

Grades were predicted by teachers and checked over by exam boards using algorithms. But on Monday the Government announced a U-turn and said predicted results could now be used, unless the algorithm result gave a student a higher grade.

Robert Ferguson, deputy head of Maidstone Grammar School welcomed this.

He said: “We are delighted the Government have made the change to this stance. While we understand the theoretical process of automated standardisation, the reality of the impact it had on young people on the ground was very different.

“As it was becoming increasingly difficult to explain to upset students why a computer algorithm based on the performance of previous students had caused their A* to become a B grade, it became clear that something had to change. The most important thing was for the students to get the grades they deserve and have the ability to take their next steps. We are now continuing to support them through the complex field of university places in this rapidly changing scenario. We do believe our process for selecting the teacher recommended grades was fair; like all schools, we were rigorous and self-critical when looking at this in May.”

Bruce Grindlay, head teacher at Sutton Valence school said: “The Government felt the need to achieve a spread of results nationally to match the normal spread of statistics, but students are not statistics and can’t be treated as such. It was particularly tough on students with lower grades who perhaps have seen them drop another level.

“The Covid years will be a remarkable chapter in the history books,” he added.