Leeds A Level students to protest in Millennium Square despite u-turn on exams

James Fishwick and Martha Storey, both 19, are calling on anyone who is angry about the way this year's exams have been marked to make their voices heard in Millennium Square on Tuesday.

> First couple to get married at Leeds Town Hall post lockdown reveal what it's like to tie the knot in the age of coronavirusThere was an outcry from students, parents and teachers after almost 40 per cent of predicted grades were downgraded by the regulator’s “moderation” algorithm.

However, the government announced on Monday that grades given will now revert back to teachers' assessed grades.

GCSE results, due out this Thursday, will also now be based off students' predicted scores.

James, who studies history at the University of Bristol, said prior to the announcement that the exam grading system was 'ridiculous'.

> TV personality Gok Wan teams up with Yorkshire event companies for a live DJ stream in LeedsHe said: "The downgrades have mainly gone towards people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"It's screwing them over. It's really difficult to get into a top university, or any university at all really, especially for students from these backgrounds.

"They are effectively saying they are not worth it.

"What I find absurd is they have been giving out 'U's' - an E or above is a pass - to students, when no one has even been able to take an exam to fail."

The pair both went to Greenhead College in Huddersfield, rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, to study for their A-Levels, but James went to secondary school at Castle Hall Academy in Mirfield and Martha went to St John Fisher in Dewsbury - both schools are currently rated as 'Inadequate' by Ofsted.

> Taking time out to refine and review will help you reach your goals - Sophie Mei Lan, YEP opinion Martha is now studying maths and philosophy at the University of Oxford.

Following the government u-turn, James told the Yorkshire Evening Post the policy change is 'heading in the right direction'.

Despite the changes, the exam system is still not 'perfect', James added.

Calling for Gavin Williamson to step down, James said: "The policy announced is heading in the correct direction.

"It isn’t perfect, but trusting teachers is something a lot of people can agree on. It is a lot of work and uncertainty for universities and other education providers.

"Furthermore BTEC students and students of other vocational qualifications are not included in the U-Turn announced last night, which they should have been.

"And it is time for Gavin Williamson to step down.

"The Conservative Party call itself the party of opportunity and within the ideology of conservatism they believe in a meritocracy.

"If that was true Gavin Williamson should be sacked or hand in his resignation, as he has done nothing of good in the past weeks to deserve the respect and authority of his ministerial office."

The pair are calling on students, teachers and politicians across Yorkshire to come to speak at the event, which is not party political.

James added: "What this is doing is entrenching the educational elitism that is so prevalent in British society today."

He pointed out that a disproportionate number of people at the top of society are privately educated.

"It's about educational equality," he added. "This has been a massive screw-up and it is not on."

The event starts at 2pm, and there will be a strong focus on social distancing and hygiene measures.

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Thank you

Laura Collins