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Students at A level and GCSE in England will receive degrees that are estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm, after a U-turn from the government.
It follows uproar after about 40% of A-level results were downgraded by exam regulator Ofqual, which used a formula based on schools’ prior grades.
GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland come out on Thursday.
Ofqual President Roger Taylor and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson apologize for causing the “emergency.”
Mr. Williamson said students and parents were affected by “significant inconsistencies” with the grading process.
In a statement, he acknowledged the “extremely difficult” year for students, after exams were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Certainty and insurance’
He said No 10 had worked with Ofqual to design “the fairest possible model”, but it had become clear that the process of awarding degrees resulted in “more significant inconsistencies than can be resolved through an appeals process”.
“I am sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents, but I hope this announcement now provides the certainty and confidence they deserve,” Mr Williamson said
The UK Government’s decision brings England into line with the other UK nations.
The estimates of teachers will be assigned to students unless the computer algorithm gave a higher class.
In a tweet, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government was “forced into a screaming U-turn after days of confusion”.
He criticized Downing Street’s treatment of students’ results as “a complete failure” and said it was a “victory for the thousands of young people who heard their voices loudly this past week”.
Students at the level held protests in the UK in response to degrees they said were being unfairly issued.
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