Labour responds to today's A-level and BTEC results
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Data released by Ofqual – the Government’s exams regulator – today
shows that private schools have seen their grades soar compared to
state schools this year, while Black students, those on free school
meals and in areas of high disadvantage were more likely to miss
out on the top grades compared to their peers. The increase in A
grades awarded today is 50 per cent higher among private schools
compared with secondary comprehensives, and more than double the
increase seen...Request free trial
Data released by Ofqual – the Government’s exams regulator – today shows that private schools have seen their grades soar compared to state schools this year, while Black students, those on free school meals and in areas of high disadvantage were more likely to miss out on the top grades compared to their peers. The increase in A grades awarded today is 50 per cent higher among private schools compared with secondary comprehensives, and more than double the increase seen among students at Sixth Form Colleges. Meanwhile, the Government data shows that Black students, those on free school meals or living in areas of high deprivation were less likely to achieve the top A or A* grades than their more advantaged peers. The Conservatives’ last minute decision making on exams opened the door to this widening of the attainment gap. While flexibility to account for disruption was necessary, the accompanying lack of a central approach has seen some students taking over 20 exams while others have done just a couple. Ahead of results day, research from The Sutton Trust warned this was advantaging private schools who were more likely to be giving their students advance notice of questions, or ‘open book’ assessments, while teachers in deprived areas were most likely to report the support received to award grades was insufficient. Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said: “Labour congratulates all students receiving their grades today and thanks the incredible education staff who worked tirelessly to award these results. “Yet the Conservatives’ chaotic last-minute decision making has opened the door to unfairness. The increase in A grades is 50 per cent higher among private schools, while Black students, students on free school meals and in areas of high deprivation are being increasingly out performed by their more advantaged peers. “The Government’s measly recovery plan will see half a million students leave school this summer without any support to recover lost learning or boost their wellbeing. Labour has set out a comprehensive Children’s Recovery Plan with opportunities for all young people to learn, play and develop post-pandemic. The Conservatives’ need to match Labour’s ambition for our children’s learning and their futures.” Ends Notes to editors:
Private schools have seen an absolute increase in A grades of 9.3 percentage points compared to 6.2 percentage points among secondary comprehensives. In relation to achieving A or A* grades, the gap between Black candidates, free school meal candidates, and candidates with a very high level of deprivation has widened compared to respective reference groups by 1.43, 1.42 and 1.39 percentage points respectively.
o Small group tutoring for all who need it o Breakfast clubs and activities for every child o Quality mental health support for children in every school o Continued professional development for teachers to support pupils to catch up on lost learning, and o Targeted extra investment from early years to further education to support young people who struggled most with learning in lockdown
Over the next four years pupils receiving catch-up tutoring and mentoring: 2020/21: 250,000 pupils 2021/22: 776,000 pupils 2022/23: 825,000 pupils 2023/24: 825,000 pupils
Pupils in each school year - GOV.UK DfE National Tutoring Programme (inc. mentoring) contract - GOV.UK |