A GOVERNMENT U-turn will see A Level and GCSE students awarded their predicted grades, after results day left many feeling frustrated.
Last month, the government announced that in place of examination grades, A Level and GCSE results would be based off teacher assessment and grade comparison to previous years.
This caused some students from Barnsley College and Penistone Grammar School to receive lower grades than they were predicted and many missed out on the opportunity to study in higher education due to the controversial decision.
Now, the exams regulator, Ofqual has announced that all A Level and GCSE results in England will be calculated through predicted grades.
Roger Taylor, chairman of Ofqual said: “We understand this has been a distressing time for students, who were awarded exam results last week for exams they never took. The pandemic has created circumstances no one could have ever imagined or wished for.
"There was no easy solution to the problem of awarding exam results when no exams have taken place.
“But we recognise that while the approach we adopted attempted to achieve these goals we also appreciate that it has also caused real anguish and damaged public confidence.
“Expecting schools to submit appeals where grades were incorrect placed a burden on teachers when they need to be preparing for the new term and has created uncertainty and anxiety for students. For all of that, we are extremely sorry.
“We have therefore decided that students be awarded their centre assessment for this summer - that is, the grade their school or college estimated was the grade they would most likely have achieved in their exam - or the moderated grade, whichever is higher.”
