Commenting on results for A-levels, AS-levels and vocational
qualifications published today, Geoff Barton, General Secretary
of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“Congratulations to students receiving their results in A-levels,
AS-levels and vocational qualifications for all that they have
achieved in the extraordinarily difficult circumstances of the
past 18 months.
“They deserve huge credit as do leaders and teachers who have
worked with great professionalism and commitment to support their
students throughout the pandemic and to then assess them for
these important qualifications following the government’s
decision to cancel public exams for the second year in a row.
“Today’s results show an increase in the proportion of students
receiving A* and A grades in A-levels compared to 2019 when exams
last took place as well as to last year when exams were cancelled
for the first time and students were assessed by schools and
colleges.
“It is important to understand that the system used to assess
students this year is different from both formal exams and the
approach that was used last year too when an attempt to use an
algorithm to standardise grades nationally went wrong and had to
be abandoned. It is therefore invidious to make direct
comparisons with other years and vital that we celebrate the
achievements of this year’s cohort who have had to endure so much
over the past 18 months.
“This year’s approach has been based on teachers using a range of
assessment methods to make a holistic judgement on the
appropriate grades for their students with these judgements then
being subject to quality assurance processes. No algorithm has
been used and schools and colleges have worked diligently to
implement this system and provide fair and accurate grades. It is
a robust system in which students, universities and employers can
have the utmost confidence.
“The majority of university applicants will now go on to their
preferred university, and those who have missed grades and go
through the clearing process will receive support from
universities, schools and colleges to find a course which fulfils
their aspirations. It will be important that universities provide
educational and pastoral support to their new undergraduates
given the extreme disruption they have faced during the course of
the pandemic and we are sure this is fully understood already.
“We wish all students well for the future, and once again extend
our thanks to teachers and leaders for all that they have done.”
