Commenting on the publication of tomorrow’s A-level and VTQ
results in England, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the
Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“It is imperative that the government engages with employer
associations and provides advice and guidance for employers to
use over the changes which have taken place to grading standards
between 2020 and 2023. This is vital to ensure that employers
understand how different cohorts of students have been graded
during and after the Covid pandemic and guard against students
being disadvantaged in applications for jobs both now and in the
future.
“Grading standards are this year expected to return to a similar
pattern to 2019 meaning that the number achieving the top grades
will reduce in comparison to last year which was in turn a
reduction on the previous year. While universities are steeped in
the mechanics of different qualification systems and will adjust
accordingly, this is not necessarily the case with employers who
will have differing levels of knowledge about these changes. The
government must work with employer associations to disseminate
clear information upon which recruiters can easily draw in
assessing candidates.
“The changes to grading standards were driven by the unique
circumstances of the pandemic, and the glide back to 2019
standards is part of a return to normality. But this will feel
like a bitter pill to many in this year’s cohort as they also
suffered disruption during the pandemic and those in
disadvantaged circumstances were adversely affected in
particular. It is essential that everything possible is done to
support these young people.”
