A-level results day as confusion continues over grading and appeal process
Gavin Williamson says the new system will benefit young people and is as fair as possible.
Thursday 13 August 2020 08:01, UK
Hundreds of thousands of students will receive their A-level and vocational qualifications today, as the fallout continues over how they are to be graded.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Wednesday that he wouldn't apologise for the last-minute change to the system in England.
Gavin Williamson said students would benefit by being allowed to use their best results from mock exams, or a moderated system or by taking exams in October.
"I won't apologise for the fact we want to make these changes because we do think they'll benefit young people," he said.
Late on Tuesday, he announced the "triple lock" system for England ahead of Thursday's AS and A-level results, prompting criticism from Labour and teaching and student unions.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for statutory guidance to require colleges and universities to show greater flexibility in admissions.
He said it was a "blatant injustice" young people could have their futures decided by their postcode as a result of the exams system.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green told Sky News the announcement was "papering over the cracks of a system that really is in chaos".
But Mr Williamson defended the last-minute decision, made after Scotland was forced to scrap moderated grades after the downgrading of more than 124,000 results was reversed.
He said the government was confident they could deal with any appeals and said it was important they were dealt with swiftly to ensure any new grades were given in time to get into university.
"What's so important is I do everything I can to ensure we have as fair a system as possible for every student and making sure that if we have to go that extra mile, as we have here, to give youngsters the best opportunity in life and make sure they get the grades they've been working towards and aspiring to," he added.
"We think we've got the balance of the system absolutely right. We want to get this right for young people.
"We recognise during a global pandemic we're having to do lots of things in a very different and unusual way, this is why we're taking a different approach, a more generous approach in terms of the appeals process.
"These actions are about making sure young people succeed."
With exams unable to take place due to the coronavirus lockdown, 250,000 students will receive results on Thursday based on predictions set by teachers.
But those predictions will be subject to moderation by exam boards who will attempt to ensure results are not inconsistent with previous years by adjusting the grades based on a school's previous results.
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In Wales, the education minister has announced that students will not receive a grade lower than their AS-levels.
Kirsty Williams said she was "confident" the system of moderation overseen by regulator Qualifications Wales and exam board WJEC was "fair for students and robust".
Wales has used a different model to Scotland, meaning 50% of the final mark given to pupils was based on AS-levels completed last year.
In Northern Ireland, the examinations body CCEA has said any students wishing to appeal their grade can use mock exams as part of their case - a move welcomed by Peter Weir, the education minister.
"I have made it clear that I do not want to see any pupil disadvantaged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, it is important that qualification standards are maintained," he said.