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| A-levels: Heads warn of 'unfair' grades for students | A-levels: Heads warn of 'unfair' grades for students |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Head teachers are warning of "volatility" in this year's A-level results and that some lowered grades seem to be "unfair and unfathomable". | Head teachers are warning of "volatility" in this year's A-level results and that some lowered grades seem to be "unfair and unfathomable". |
| In England, 36% of entries had a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades, in results for exams cancelled by the pandemic. | In England, 36% of entries had a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades, in results for exams cancelled by the pandemic. |
| But the overall results, across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, show record highs for A* and A grades. | But the overall results, across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, show record highs for A* and A grades. |
| Controversy has surrounded how results have been decided. | Controversy has surrounded how results have been decided. |
| There was "deep frustration" in schools about the confusion caused by late changes to the results system, including the use of mock grades, said Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union. | There was "deep frustration" in schools about the confusion caused by late changes to the results system, including the use of mock grades, said Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union. |
| "While there has been an overall increase in top grades, we are very concerned that this disguises a great deal of volatility among the results at school and student level," said Mr Barton. | "While there has been an overall increase in top grades, we are very concerned that this disguises a great deal of volatility among the results at school and student level," said Mr Barton. |
| "We have received heartbreaking feedback from school leaders about grades being pulled down in a way that they feel to be utterly unfair and unfathomable. They are extremely concerned about the detrimental impact on their students." | "We have received heartbreaking feedback from school leaders about grades being pulled down in a way that they feel to be utterly unfair and unfathomable. They are extremely concerned about the detrimental impact on their students." |
| For the top A* and A grades, independent schools in England saw the greatest improvement on last year - up 4.7 percentage points. | For the top A* and A grades, independent schools in England saw the greatest improvement on last year - up 4.7 percentage points. |
| This compares with a 1.7, 2 and 0.3 percentage points improvement for top grades for England's academies, comprehensives and colleges respectively. | |
| The Sixth Form Colleges Association has called the system for calculating A-level grades, "flawed and unreliable" after almost all colleges said grades were lower or much lower than predicted. | The Sixth Form Colleges Association has called the system for calculating A-level grades, "flawed and unreliable" after almost all colleges said grades were lower or much lower than predicted. |
| A third of college principals also reported results lower or "dramatically lower" than their historic exam performance. | A third of college principals also reported results lower or "dramatically lower" than their historic exam performance. |
| But the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the "majority of young people will have received a calculated grade today that enables them to progress to the destination they deserve, with the added safety net of being able to appeal on the basis of their mock results, as well as the chance of sitting autumn exams". | But the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the "majority of young people will have received a calculated grade today that enables them to progress to the destination they deserve, with the added safety net of being able to appeal on the basis of their mock results, as well as the chance of sitting autumn exams". |
| He also said it was "incredibly important" that the moderation process for results did not unfairly disadvantage deprived youngsters or black and ethnic minority communities. | He also said it was "incredibly important" that the moderation process for results did not unfairly disadvantage deprived youngsters or black and ethnic minority communities. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Something has obviously gone horribly wrong with this year's exam results. | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Something has obviously gone horribly wrong with this year's exam results. |
| "Nearly 40% of young people have had their grades marked down and that's thousands of young people whose opportunities could have been dashed." | "Nearly 40% of young people have had their grades marked down and that's thousands of young people whose opportunities could have been dashed." |
| The exam results show: | The exam results show: |
| The proportion of entries getting an A* or A grade is at a record high this year - with the 27.9% above the previous highest of 27% in 2011. | The proportion of entries getting an A* or A grade is at a record high this year - with the 27.9% above the previous highest of 27% in 2011. |
| And there are increases in those getting A* to C - as the exam regulator had promised a more lenient approach. | And there are increases in those getting A* to C - as the exam regulator had promised a more lenient approach. |
| 'My future has been set back' | 'My future has been set back' |
| At Wilberforce Sixth Form College in Hull, while some students were celebrating, others were very disappointed. | At Wilberforce Sixth Form College in Hull, while some students were celebrating, others were very disappointed. |
| Abbi is one of those students who is not happy with her results, saying she had missed out on her place at Durham University to study engineering. | Abbi is one of those students who is not happy with her results, saying she had missed out on her place at Durham University to study engineering. |
| She said she would now have to consider retakes or finding a clearing place at another university. | She said she would now have to consider retakes or finding a clearing place at another university. |
| "It seems like some unfair grading. When I opened them I had a bit of a cry," she told the BBC. | "It seems like some unfair grading. When I opened them I had a bit of a cry," she told the BBC. |
| "My future has been set back completely," she said. | "My future has been set back completely," she said. |
| "I had my heart set on Durham and it's now not an option for clearing because there's no clearing for my course." | "I had my heart set on Durham and it's now not an option for clearing because there's no clearing for my course." |
| "I would have happily sat the exams but it was up to the government," she said, adding that she was angry her results had been affected by something out of her control. | "I would have happily sat the exams but it was up to the government," she said, adding that she was angry her results had been affected by something out of her control. |
| Head teacher Colin Peaks said he had never seen "such a negative feeling" on results day in all his years of teaching. | Head teacher Colin Peaks said he had never seen "such a negative feeling" on results day in all his years of teaching. |
| Mr Peaks said there was "something worrying across the board", with many good students not getting the grades they would have expected. | Mr Peaks said there was "something worrying across the board", with many good students not getting the grades they would have expected. |
| "The anomalies within the system aren't right - I'm seeing anomalies across the piece that do not make sense to me." | "The anomalies within the system aren't right - I'm seeing anomalies across the piece that do not make sense to me." |
| He said basing results, in part, on last year's students' results was wrong because "they're different". | He said basing results, in part, on last year's students' results was wrong because "they're different". |
| "We are going to see lots of appeals," he added. | "We are going to see lots of appeals," he added. |
| Students taking vocational exams have been getting estimated results over recent weeks - with more than 250,000 receiving their grades in BTec and Cambridge Technical qualifications which are equivalent to A-levels and strong GCSE passes. | Students taking vocational exams have been getting estimated results over recent weeks - with more than 250,000 receiving their grades in BTec and Cambridge Technical qualifications which are equivalent to A-levels and strong GCSE passes. |
| The Department for Education says vocational results are "broadly in line with previous years". | The Department for Education says vocational results are "broadly in line with previous years". |
| Figures from the admissions service, Ucas, show that more students have been accepted onto UK degree courses this year. | Figures from the admissions service, Ucas, show that more students have been accepted onto UK degree courses this year. |
| Among UK applicants, 358,860 have been accepted - a 2.9% rise compared with 2019. | Among UK applicants, 358,860 have been accepted - a 2.9% rise compared with 2019. |
| Of these, 316,730 have been accepted on to their first choice, up 2.7% on the same point last year. | Of these, 316,730 have been accepted on to their first choice, up 2.7% on the same point last year. |
| Clearing is an increasingly popular route for students to find a degree course, with leading universities among those offering last-minute places through the system, Ucas said. | Clearing is an increasingly popular route for students to find a degree course, with leading universities among those offering last-minute places through the system, Ucas said. |
| Analysis | |
| By Sean Coughlan, education correspondent | |
| This is a strange year for A-level results in every way, with grades arriving for exams that were never taken. | This is a strange year for A-level results in every way, with grades arriving for exams that were never taken. |
| In more usual times the headlines would have been about this being a record year for top grades - with almost 28% getting A*s or As. | In more usual times the headlines would have been about this being a record year for top grades - with almost 28% getting A*s or As. |
| But instead this has been an exam results day full of uncertainty, with head teachers warning about volatility below the surface of rising grades. | But instead this has been an exam results day full of uncertainty, with head teachers warning about volatility below the surface of rising grades. |
| Almost two out of every five results were lower than the grades predicted by their teachers - and heads are warning of a confusing pattern of where results have gone down. | Almost two out of every five results were lower than the grades predicted by their teachers - and heads are warning of a confusing pattern of where results have gone down. |
| But, at the same time, those trying to get to university might find that they're able to get in with lower grades than in previous years, with the promise of "super-flexible" admissions. | But, at the same time, those trying to get to university might find that they're able to get in with lower grades than in previous years, with the promise of "super-flexible" admissions. |
| The confusion extends to what happens next. Because for those getting bad news today, it could still be good news through the appeals process. | The confusion extends to what happens next. Because for those getting bad news today, it could still be good news through the appeals process. |
| Have you got your A-level or BTec results today? Are there any questions you'd like to ask our experts? Share your stories by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you got your A-level or BTec results today? Are there any questions you'd like to ask our experts? Share your stories by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |