School head: Grading system ‘robs students of chance to show what they learnt’

Kantor King Solomon High School’s headteacher said the way this year’s A-Level results have been calculated has “robbed” pupils of a chance to show what they learnt.

Grades submitted by schools in the wake of cancelled papers were moderated by exam boards to ensure this year’s results were not significantly higher.

• LIVE BLOG: A-level results day 2020  

The Government has faced calls to review its moderation system, after figures revealed more than a third of teachers’ predicted scores were adjusted down by one grade.

Hannele Reece, who heads the modern Orthodox comprehensive in Barkingside, said on Thursday she remains “disappointed that the cancellation of examinations has led to a system that robs our students of the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learnt.”

Speaking on A-Level results day, she said “the debacle around the way students’ results have been calculated has led to a situation where students are judged on the basis of a moderation system that has not seen any of their work.”

“Having already coped with the challenges of Covid-19 and unprecedented school closures they are now being asked to accept results that may determine their futures on the basis of a statistical exercise,” she added.

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Amid criticism, the PM said: “I think obviously it was going to be very difficult in the absence of formal proper exams this year of the kind that we normally have because of the virus, we’ve had to put in the system we have.

“I do think it’s robust and as I say, a couple of things I think are very important – first of all, more students than ever before are able to go to their university of choice, to do the course of their choice.