Schools set to celebrate GCSE results after "painstaking" re-calculations following Ofqual's A Level downgrade controversy

With constantly changing government guidance in the last few days since education chiefs decided to take teacher assessments rather than an Ofqual moderation, schools have had to painstakingly sift through student records to make sure they are handed the right verdicts after the sitting of exams was cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown.

It comes after 40 per cent of the UK's A Level students were down-graded and a flurry of criticism which also said the social inequality gap had been further widened.

Garforth Academy said it had already pulled out the teacher assessments and prepared them for pupils to pick up this morning, only to be told that if Ofqual had graded the student higher, that result stood so the results had to be checked again.

Exams officer at Garforth, Linda Smith, said it had been "a nightmare".

She told the Yorkshire Evening Post that on Tuesday the school had been ordered three times to change what it was doing. It was told there would be two sets of results - the teacher assessment and then the best of the grades and later told there would be just one set of results issued which is a combination of teacher grades and the calculated grade.

Garforth will certificate students for whichever grade is the highest and added that the sixth form provision will keep its offer of places to students regardless of any grade changes.

The officer added that despite it not being the "normal celebration" of results, the 300 plus number of students due to receive GCSE results had been invited to come into school today to collect them.

She added: "It is not the normal celebration that they would have. They have been given a time to come in and at various areas (of the school). They have been emailed the areas to go to like we did with A Level results."

Over at Carr Manor School in Moortown, students can also go in person to find out their results too. The principal told the Yorkshire Evening Post they were looking forward to seeing pupils in person after what had been a "difficult time for Year 11 pupils".

Lucie Lakin, said: “We have been aware what a difficult time this has been for our Year 11 pupils and have been in regular contact with them throughout lockdown, working with them to support their wellbeing and next steps.

"We are looking forward to seeing all Year 11 pupils safely in school in Thursday to collect their GCSE results. We are proud of the achievements of our pupils and significant numbers of school staff will be in school on Thursday to share with them this important day as well as to offer guidance, support and assistance for their next steps.

"We will have various ‘stations’ set up to discuss with pupils their next steps as well as an opportunity to congratulate the pupils for their hard work and resilience. Our relationships with our pupils and families are the cornerstone on which the school’s success is built and we will continue to work closely with the exiting Year 11 at a time when they need reassurance and support”.

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers, click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins