2021’s exams may also be hit in Wales – warning

STUDENTS in Wales could face further disruption to their studies next year, a Welsh Government minister has warned.

Vaughan Gething insisted there may not be a “normal exam season” in 2021 and he could not “look anyone in the eye and say that everything will be fine”.

Meanwhile, Wales’ Education Minister has apologised for the anxiety and stress caused to teenagers by the country’s A-level grading system fiasco.

Kirsty Williams said: “It is right that I apologise directly and unreservedly to our young people.”

In Wales, 42% of A-level results predicted by teachers were lowered by Qualifications Wales.

But in a U-turn on Monday, Welsh pupils now will be awarded results on the basis of teacher assessments rather than the controversial algorithm.

EDUCATION Secretary Gavin Williamson has resisted calls to resign over his handling of A-level and GCSE grades in England, but he has apologised to thousands of students for the distress caused.

The UK Government announced a U-turn on Monday when it said students would be able to receive grades based on their teachers’ estimates following anger over the downgrading of thousands of A-level grades.

But Mr Williamson has repeatedly refused to say whether he would consider resigning from his position.

The minister said there had been “broad political consensus” across all parties that a standardisation model was needed for teachers’ assessments of grades after exams were cancelled amid Covid-19.

Mr Williamson insisted that England’s exams regulator Ofqual “didn’t deliver” the grading system that the Government had been “reassured” would be in place.

Universities have called for urgent support from the Government to ensure A-level students do not miss out on their first choice places.

Students who now have higher grades amid the U-turn – which came four days after A-level results were announced – could still be asked to defer their place if there is no space left on their preferred course.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday, the Education Secretary said: “I’d like to just start off by apologising, saying sorry to all those young people who have been affected by this.

“This is something that, firstly, none of us wanted to see and none of us expected to see.”

Tory MP and chairman of the education select committee Robert Halfon called the situation with exams a “mega-mess” after he had warned of the risk that disadvantaged pupils could be negatively affected.

Asked who is to blame for the

problems in the exams system, the Conservative MP told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “We need to find that out. I’d like to see the minutes of everything that has gone on.

He said: “I also think we should find out how much this has cost the taxpayer just so that we make sure that this never happens again.”

“What has happened has been a mega-mess and I really feel sorry for all the pupils and students and parents across the country who’ve had so much anguish over the past week through no fault of their own,” Mr Halfon added.

Shadow universities minister Emma Hardy said Mr Williamson’s delay in allowing pupils to be given grades estimated by teachers has caused a “massive headache” for universities.

She told BBC Breakfast: “His delay in making this decision has meant that more and more places at university have been filled up. Many students have gone ahead and accepted their second-place offers or other offers, or in fact got offers that maybe in the past they wouldn’t have actually been entitled to.”

Asked whether she believes Mr Williamson should resign, she said: “Well, I know if I was in charge of the Government he certainly wouldn’t be in my team, but that’s a matter for Boris Johnson.”

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Williamson said: “What we’re doing is we’re focusing on delivering the grades for those children.

“We’re making sure that we’re going to make sure that all schools are returned and I’m absolutely determined over the coming year that I’m going to be delivering the world’s best education system.”

The Westminster Government’s U-turn brings the nation into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which will all use teacherpredicted grades.