The government owes GCSE and A Level students a robust system of awarding grades, says NAHT

Today (Thu 25 Feb) the government announces the set of arrangements that it expects schools and colleges to follow when awarding students GCSE, A Level and equivalent grades for 2021.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT said: “It has been a significantly disrupted year for students and their teachers, and the government owes them a robust system of awarding grades, bearing in mind none of this disruption has been their fault.

“Ultimately, grades are a passport to the next place of study or work. Today’s plans appear to chart a path which avoids the awful chaos of last year. This set of decisions is, however, only the starting point; it is now down to the awarding bodies to provide the detail which schools and colleges need to implement the process.

“We are pleased to see that students will be assessed on what they have learned and that schools and colleges will be able to use a range of evidence to arrive at a grade that fairly reflects what a student knows, understands and can do in a subject.

“Every grade submitted by a school or college, in each subject for every student, will be the result of the collaborative efforts of teachers, heads of department and senior leaders, supported by the awarding bodies and subject to robust quality assurance processes. That will mean that the grades awarded will command the confidence of everyone involved, from students themselves to universities and employers.

“NAHT remains concerned about the change in the dates of results days. Although earlier results for students seeking to start university could be beneficial, cramming GCSE results into the same week will place unnecessary pressure on to the system.”