THE plan for teachers to grade students who would normally have been sitting A-levels and GCSE exams this summer has been welcomed.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed in the House of Commons yesterday that the government would not be using its controversial algorithm following a backlash from Year 13s last year.

He had already called off the end-of-year exams because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, teachers will use coursework, in-class tests, optional questions provided by exam boards and mock exams can be used as evidence for results given to pupils. 

And exam boards will be providing grade descriptions to help.

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust CEO George Croxford said: “I welcome the decision, it’s far better than the ludicrous algorithm that they used last year. It was such a disaster, it cost too many students their university place and that can never happen again. 

“It needs to have very clear boundaries in place but I like the fact it’s an assessment of students by teachers. I hope that every school will use the exam board questions to test students.”

UTC Swindon headteacher Jon Oliver also supports the decision. 

He said: “It’s quite clearly laid out so it allows schools to work towards a clearer picture. 

“In a very difficult situation, this is a much better solution compared to last year and it will allow students to show what they’re capable of.

“Lots of students are going to be upset they can’t sit exams because they’ve worked hard towards those, but it has been expressed for some time that exams were going to be cancelled. There’s always going to be criticism but I think this is the best situation for where we are right now.”

Results will be published earlier than normal, with A-levels on August 10 and GCSEs on August 12 to allow time for students to appeal.

We asked our readers what they thought of the decision – but not everyone is on board. 

Lily Manns said: “I disagree because when I was at school I was failing all the mock exams and then when it came to real ones, I came out with As and Bs because I revised for the exams.”

Katie Brewer added: “I think you get very clever kids that mess around, usually because they are bored, in school but you put them in the exams and they excel.”

And Jen Rollinson said: “My daughter had to finish Year 11 in the first lockdown and she didn’t get to do her exams and the results she got were nowhere near what she was predicted.”