FROME College’s principal, Emma Reynolds, has welcomed the government’s U-turn over how A-level students’ results will be calculated.
Students across the country have been in turmoil since receiving their A-level results last week. Because they were unable to sit their exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic, their results were originally going to be based on predictions of teachers.
However, many results were downgraded by exams regulator Ofqual, using a formula based on schools’ prior grades. This week, in a U-turn, the government is going back to teachers’ predictions. As a result, many students are now scrambling to grab university and further education places.
Principal Emma Reynolds said, “We are so pleased that, after days of deliberations, the government has announced that centre assessed grades will be the final results for A-levels and GCSEs this year.
“This is a welcome, fair and appropriate decision following on from such a stressful, inappropriate period for students nationally. I would like to thank all those Frome students, parents, governors and teachers who made their voice heard in protest and rejected the algorith- led, unfathomable and profoundly unfair moderation.
“Common sense has never been more welcome.”
Prior to the government U-turn, principal Emma Reynolds praised the ‘resilience and strength’ of its A-level students. She said, “Our class of 2020 has shown exceptional resilience and strength in the face of the most extraordinary circumstances. We are so proud of you and have missed you over these past months; we look forward to a time in the future when we can celebrate your achievements.
“As you receive your grades today, I want you to know that adjustments have been made by the exam boards. Some of the calculated grades your teachers spent hours over; worried about doing the right and fair thing for each and every one of you, have been downgraded as part of a national statistics management plan.
“My concerns aren’t about algorithms, which model and manage national statistics. My concerns are about the life chances of young people and giving everyone a fair start in life.
“In usual times I would show comparisons in results with previous years and share individual students’ achievements but that doesn’t seem appropriate given the government’s decisions around appeals and resits. I will wait until all results are finalised before any comparisons are made.
“Suffice to say, we will always support you as alumni of Frome College. You should always be proud of the fact that you have had a good education here and I would like to think you will use that good education to do good in society.”
