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. We want to now take steps to remove as much stress
and uncertainty for young people as possible - and to
free up heads and teachers to work towards the
important task of getting all schools open in two
weeks.
After reflection, we have decided that the best way to
do this is to award grades on the basis of what
teachers submitted. The switch to centre assessment
grades will apply to both AS and A levels and to the
GCSE results which students will receive later this
week.
There was no easy solution to the problem of awarding
exam results when no exams have taken place. Ofqual was
asked by the Secretary of State to develop a system for
awarding calculated grades, which maintained standards
and ensured that grades were awarded broadly in line
with previous years. Our goal has always been to
protect the trust that the public rightly has in
educational qualifications.
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.
The path forward we now plan to implement will provide
urgent clarity. We are already working with the
Department for Education, universities and everyone
else affected by this issue.
