Embargoed until
0001 Thursday 12 August 2021
Speaking ahead of the release of this year’s GCSE results, Paul
Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
“Congratulations to all students receiving their GCSE grades -
they should be proud of what they have achieved in such
challenging circumstances. School and college staff have gone
above and beyond in order to make the system fair and robust this
year.
“This different approach to assessment means it is likely we will
see higher results overall this year. This is a natural
consequence of the system that the government instructed schools
to implement.
“Grades have been arrived at in a completely unique way, so it
would not be sensible to compare this year’s results with any
other, and any talk of ‘grade inflation’ is unhelpful to
students. This year’s results are based on a portfolio of
evidence completed by students which has been marked, moderated
and quality assured by teachers, school leaders and exam boards.
“In a normal year, we would see the process of comparable
outcomes ranking students from top to bottom, meaning that
broadly the same proportions of students received each grade.
This year students have been able to show what they know,
understand and can do, without the high pressure snapshot moment
of an exam, where some students will always underperform.
“Using criteria-based grade descriptors this year has meant that
if a student’s evidence demonstrates they have achieved what is
required of a grade, then that is the grade they are awarded.
This is particularly important in English and maths, where a
grade three at GCSE leads to a potentially demoralising spiral of
resits.
“The government has an opportunity to take a fresh look at the
best ways to assess students’ achievements and to consider
whether the changes to GCSEs, where, for most subjects,
everything is determined by a packed programme of terminal exams
is right and fair.”
