Portsmouth education bosses pleased as government u-turns on A-level results

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March, all A-level exams were cancelled, with many students expecting to instead simply receive their predicted grades.

Instead, at least 39 per cent of A-levels were downgraded, some by as many as five grades across students’ courses.

Now, A-level and GCSE students will be marked based on their predicted grades for this year. But higher-ups in Portsmouth’s education system say this should have been the pathway to begin with – and would have made results day much less stressful for the city’s teenagers.

Mike Gaston, principal and CEO of Havant and South Downs College, said: ‘This has been an extremely distressing time for students, parents and teachers.

‘Some of the inconsistencies in the algorithm applied had an unintended consequence of downgrading students with a number failing to meet university entry requirements despite mocks and centre assessed grades saying otherwise.

‘This decision, although late in the day, brings considerable relief to the many students who can now receive the outcomes that their teachers believed they were working at and deserved. This in turn will allow many to take up their chosen university place.

‘We congratulate our students and wish them well for next year.’

For pupils at Waterlooville’s Oaklands Catholic School’s sixth form college, more than 70 students were set to appeal their results.

At UTC Portsmouth, 30 per cent of students achieved A* to A grades – compared to just nine per cent last year – and 52 per cent of pupils were awarded A* to B grades.

James Doherty from UTC said at the time that the grades were not a ‘fair reflection’ of students’ efforts.

SEE ALSO: Education secretary says sorry for exam results shambles

After the announcement, he said: ‘As a college we were disappointed to have seen that some of our students had been downgraded to a result that did not reflect what they likely would have achieved if they were able to sit exams.

‘This announcement will allow the students to have some peace of mind that they are not being penalised by an algorithm.’

Councillor Suzy Horton, cabinet member for education for Portsmouth City Council, says teenagers have been on an emotional rollercoaster in the past week, due to the government’s ‘ineptitude’.

She said: ‘I went to UTC Portsmouth and Portsmouth College and there was a real sense of disappointment, which could have so easily been avoided.

‘The whole thing has been totally inept – it was completely out of the hands of students and this all lands at the feet of the government.

‘This all could have been handled much better, though I'm glad students are now getting the grades they deserve.’

In London, pupils were protesting outside the Department for Education offices, calling for education secretary Gavin Williamson to resign.

Labour MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has called the government ‘incompetent’ following the decision change.

He said: ‘After hearing from many young people and their families across Portsmouth, I have been pushing for government to change course and move to teacher assessed grades.

‘By getting this so wrong, the government risked the life chances for a generation.

‘This u-turn on scrapping the controversial algorithm is a victory for thousands and is the right decision for young people, and for Portsmouth. I commend students affected for powerfully making their voices heard.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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