Labour calls for immediate clarity on timing of GCSE results

Labour has called for the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, to provide urgent clarity on when students would receive their GCSE results, and what information they would receive.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Gavin Williamson said that young people “will be told whichever is their highest.” This is inconsistent with information published by his own Department only last night, which said that on Thursday young people would only receive their centre-assessed grade, the grade given by their teacher, with official grades to follow a week later.

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:

“Only a day after the Government were dragged in to a screeching U-turn, we have seen fresh confusion on what will happen to young people in the days ahead.

“The repeated incompetence of the Education Secretary and this government are creating confusion and unease for a generation of young people and their families. If young people do not know all of their grades they could be concerned about losing college and apprenticeship places. This is not acceptable.

“It is time for him to provide immediate clarity, and ensure that young people receive all of their grades on Thursday.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Guidance published by the Department for Education yesterday said that pupils would only receive centre assessed grades on Thursday, with official results due to follow a week later.
  “On Thursday schools and colleges will inform students of their GCSE centre assessment grades, and official results will be released to students next week.”
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gcse-and-a-level-students-to-receive-centre-assessment-grades

• The Education Secretary appeared to contradict this position on BBC Breakfast this morning, creating further confusion on what information young people will receive on Thursday.

Louise Minchin: What happens on Thursday with GCSEs? What are parents, children going to receive? Because we hear that the official results will be a week later. So what happens on Thursday?

Gavin Williamson: So youngsters will be told whichever is their highest, whether it is that centre-assessed grade, or whether that is the moderated standardised grade that has been provided by Ofqual, and certification will follow the week later.