Williamson fails question on his own exam results
GAVIN WILLIAMSON claimed that he had forgotten his A-level results after being asked about his performance in school examinations, yesterday.
The Education Secretary was on LBC radio for yesterday’s results day, as students received their own A-level grades.
Asked how he fared by presenter Nick Ferrari, Mr Williamson said he remembered “seeing the grades on there and feeling absolute delight”.
“It was 27 years ago. I’ve forgotten, it was so long ago,” he said when he was challenged. Mr Ferrari responded by asking whether Mr Williamson’s results were a “state secret”.
Mr Williamson went to Scarborough Sixth Form College between 1992 and 1994 and studied A-level history, government and politics, and economics.
He has credited his time at sixth form with his interest in politics and said that it was “fascinating” to see the parliamentary process at work during a school trip to the House of Commons.
“During my work experience, organised by my sixth form, I was fortunate enough to shadow an MP,” Mr Williamson told his former school in 2016.
“These experiences persuaded me that politics was something in which I wanted to become more involved. I still remember very fondly the times of my government and politics classes and the many discussions that took place.”
Scarborough Sixth Form College was also where the Education Secretary met his wife, Joanne, who he married in 2001. They have two children.
Peter Ashton, a retired teacher who led Mr Williamson’s politics class, told last year’s Conservative Party conference the group of students was “starstudded” and also included Truro MP Cherilyn Mackrory.
“They were a fantastic group, we had great times together. Gavin was very respectful towards me, always a Conservative from a young age, even from 18 onwards,” Mr Ashton said.
Writing for yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, Mr Williamson said this year’s results day was a time to “celebrate students and teachers and worry about a return to formal exams later”.
“[Exams] would have been unfair on students, who had already given up so much in the battle against coronavirus,” he said.
“Any debate about the system we’ve used this year should not undermine or question the value of the grades students will be getting.
“We should congratulate them all for their resilience and determination.”