A-Level results problems will ‘have repercussions for next year’, claims teaching union

Sharon Calvert, a National Executive Member for Yorkshire and Humberside for the NASUWT teachers union also claimed many students who had taken BTEC courses were also still in the dark about their results.

The Government announced on Monday it would revert back to teacher assessed scores after almost 40 per cent of predicted grades were downgraded by the regulator’s “moderation” algorithm. GCSE results, due out this Thursday, will also now be based off of students’ predicted results.

Ms Calvert said: “We are pleased that the government has finally decided to revert to teacher assessed grades and finally acknowledge the integrity of teacher’s professionalism.

“The upset caused to thousands of students across the country whose futures were jeopardised by the government’s decision to use an algorithm rather than trusting its teachers in these unprecedented times will also have repercussions for next year.

“Students who have done BTEC courses are still none the wiser and this issue also needs to be resolved. The government needs to work together with education unions and headteachers to ensure that a fair and equitable system is put in to place for next year to avoid the heartbreak felt by those A-level students that did not get their first choice for university or apprenticeship.”

The problems led to widespread protests from students who had been downgraded, as well as condemnation from education and political figures in Leeds.

Leeds Northwest MP is the latest to comment on the fiasco.

He said: “I am pleased that the U-turn we have been calling has finally happened, not before a lot of stress and anxiety was caused to our young people and their parents including many in my constituency.

“If the government had simply trusted our teachers from the start and planned properly for this very foreseeable circumstance then this whole situation could have been avoided. I hope that this fiasco will not have a detrimental effect on those waiting for confirmation on university places.”