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| Replacement A-level grades 'no lower than mock exams' | Replacement A-level grades 'no lower than mock exams' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A-level and GCSE students in England are being promised their final results will be no lower than their mock exams. | A-level and GCSE students in England are being promised their final results will be no lower than their mock exams. |
| The Department for Education announced a "triple lock" - so results will be the highest out of their estimated grades, their mocks and an optional written exam in the autumn. | The Department for Education announced a "triple lock" - so results will be the highest out of their estimated grades, their mocks and an optional written exam in the autumn. |
| It follows Scotland's decision to switch to teachers' predicted grades. | It follows Scotland's decision to switch to teachers' predicted grades. |
| Head teachers attacked the last-minute change as "panicked and chaotic". | Head teachers attacked the last-minute change as "panicked and chaotic". |
| 'Beggars belief' | 'Beggars belief' |
| The change means that if pupils get an estimated grade lower than their mock exam they can appeal - but this will have to be through their school, with the terms for approving appeals to be decided by the exam watchdog, Ofqual. | The change means that if pupils get an estimated grade lower than their mock exam they can appeal - but this will have to be through their school, with the terms for approving appeals to be decided by the exam watchdog, Ofqual. |
| Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said the move "beggars belief" and that mock exams were carried out in many different ways and were not consistent enough to be used to determine A-level and GCSE results. | |
| "The government doesn't appear to understand how mock exams work. They aren't a set of exams which all conform to the same standards. The clue is in the name 'mock'," said Mr Barton. | "The government doesn't appear to understand how mock exams work. They aren't a set of exams which all conform to the same standards. The clue is in the name 'mock'," said Mr Barton. |
| Universities UK says it is seeking "urgent clarification" about what it will mean for university admissions. | |
| How grades are being decided around the UK | |
| The move in England comes after 76,000 pupils in Scotland had their results upgraded after being lowered by a moderating system which critics claimed was a "postcode lottery" as it linked pupils' results with their schools' past performances. | The move in England comes after 76,000 pupils in Scotland had their results upgraded after being lowered by a moderating system which critics claimed was a "postcode lottery" as it linked pupils' results with their schools' past performances. |
| It drew accusations that high-achieving pupils in low-performing schools would lose out - and that this would particularly discriminate against young people in deprived areas. | It drew accusations that high-achieving pupils in low-performing schools would lose out - and that this would particularly discriminate against young people in deprived areas. |
| The Scottish government has apologised and results will now be based on teachers' predicted grades. | |
| England's schools minister Nick Gibb told BBC Breakfast being able to appeal on the basis of their mock results was "an extra safety net for a small group of pupils". | England's schools minister Nick Gibb told BBC Breakfast being able to appeal on the basis of their mock results was "an extra safety net for a small group of pupils". |
| He rejected concerns about confusion and said he would "apologise to nobody for finding solutions - even at the eleventh hour" to stop students being disadvantaged. | He rejected concerns about confusion and said he would "apologise to nobody for finding solutions - even at the eleventh hour" to stop students being disadvantaged. |
| For A-level students in England getting their results on Thursday, mock exams marked by teachers before the lockdown will now become an important part of deciding their final results. | For A-level students in England getting their results on Thursday, mock exams marked by teachers before the lockdown will now become an important part of deciding their final results. |
| Meanwhile, the Welsh government has tried to reassure A-level students that Wales' modelling is "fair", with nearly half of pupils' final mark based on AS-levels completed last year. | Meanwhile, the Welsh government has tried to reassure A-level students that Wales' modelling is "fair", with nearly half of pupils' final mark based on AS-levels completed last year. |
| But the link with previous school results remains an important part of how A-level grades will be decided in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | But the link with previous school results remains an important part of how A-level grades will be decided in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Grade inflation | |
| England's exam regulator Ofqual warned that relying on teachers' predictions would unfairly inflate results. | England's exam regulator Ofqual warned that relying on teachers' predictions would unfairly inflate results. |
| Using teachers' predictions would have meant about 38% of entries would have been A* or A grades this year - considerably higher than the previous record of 27%. | Using teachers' predictions would have meant about 38% of entries would have been A* or A grades this year - considerably higher than the previous record of 27%. |
| "Every young person waiting for their results wants to know they have been treated fairly," said England's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. | "Every young person waiting for their results wants to know they have been treated fairly," said England's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. |
| "By ensuring students have the safety net of their mock results, as well as the chance of sitting autumn exams, we are creating a triple lock process to ensure they can have the confidence to take the next step forward in work or education". | "By ensuring students have the safety net of their mock results, as well as the chance of sitting autumn exams, we are creating a triple lock process to ensure they can have the confidence to take the next step forward in work or education". |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned that the approach to this year's exams risks "robbing a generation of young people of their future". | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned that the approach to this year's exams risks "robbing a generation of young people of their future". |
| Mary Bousted of the National Education Union warned the changes in Scotland meant students in different parts of the UK were applying for the same university places with results based on "completely different criteria and wildly different pass rates". | |
| But it is expected to be a good year for students looking for university places - with an anticipated fall in overseas students leaving many places to be filled. | |
| Even if pupils miss their required grades places will still be available, suggested Clare Marchant of the Ucas admissions service. | |
| "Those near-miss candidates, if they've dropped one or two grades, universities are being super-flexible about that," said Ms Marchant. | |
| Never on the eve of results for students have the goalposts moved so rapidly as in this shift - which could allow some mock results to be accepted instead of the grade calculated after a lengthy process. | Never on the eve of results for students have the goalposts moved so rapidly as in this shift - which could allow some mock results to be accepted instead of the grade calculated after a lengthy process. |
| Students would have to go through an appeal. | Students would have to go through an appeal. |
| Geoff Barton of the head teachers' union said it beggared belief that changes were being made now. | Geoff Barton of the head teachers' union said it beggared belief that changes were being made now. |
| I understand that universities have not been consulted either. Many of their admissions decisions will have been made since they received A-level grades last Friday to prepare for clearing. | I understand that universities have not been consulted either. Many of their admissions decisions will have been made since they received A-level grades last Friday to prepare for clearing. |
| Northern Ireland has also said it would now accept mock exams as a basis for appeals. | Northern Ireland has also said it would now accept mock exams as a basis for appeals. |
| Labour says there needs to be more transparency about how grades have been calculated. | Labour says there needs to be more transparency about how grades have been calculated. |
| The party says GCSE pupils in England should have a guarantee they won't face compulsory re-sits in maths or English if they fall below grade 4. | The party says GCSE pupils in England should have a guarantee they won't face compulsory re-sits in maths or English if they fall below grade 4. |
| Are you expecting to receive your exam results on Thursday? How would the government's plan affect you? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you expecting to receive your exam results on Thursday? How would the government's plan affect you? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |