Politics

Universities demand government bailout following chaos of exam grading U-turn


Universities have demanded a government bailout following the exams grading fiasco.

Less prestigious institutions could face huge losses after the U-turn on A-levels, it is warned.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were told they could use teachers’ recommended grades if they were higher than last week’s moderated results, when 40% of marks were downgraded.

Exams were cancelled to curb the spread of coronavirus, with teachers’ predictions standardised through a computer algorithm designed by regulator Ofqual.

Approximately 15,000 A-level students originally rejected by their first choice university now meet the conditions of their offer after the U-turn, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service said.

In a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson from Universities UK, vice-chancellors warned: “It will result in overall grade inflation leading to significant decreases in planned enrolments at institutions as students opt for higher tariff courses.

“Such institutions whose financial plans were based on the agreed temporary student number controls will now require financial support.”

Gavin Williamson in Westminster the morning after announcing a U-turn on policy for grading A Level exam results

The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned leading universities would be “awash” with applicants but lower-ranked universities risked losing a “financially crippling” slice of their intake.

Associate director Jack Britton said: “Had the Government been more transparent about their proposed mechanism, all this could have been avoided.”

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “We are supporting universities by announcing our intention to remove temporary student number controls and working with them to help them prioritise students and uphold their first choice.”

GCSE students were assured they would receive their final results today.

The Sixth Form Colleges Association also called for more funding to cope with a likely surge of who will now be able to meet entry requirements with teacher-recommended grades.

A-level students hold a sit in protest at the Department for Education over the results fiasco

Deputy chief executive James Kewin said: “The challenges faced by sixth form colleges mirror those faced by universities.”

Schools and colleges were told by exam board Pearson not to issue BTEC results today as they recalculate grades.

Mr Williamson claimed credit for the U-turn on Monday but yesterday his department said: “The decision [Ofqual] took to move from moderated grades to centre assessed grades was one we agreed with.”

Lib Dem education spokeswoman Layla Moran said: “The Government has serious questions to answer over what looks like a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. Enough smoke and mirrors. All internal correspondence between DfE and Ofqual on this matter must to be published.”

Joshua Okai wrote to the education secretary saying he hopes he doesn’t suffer the same fate as A-level students after taking his GCSEs

Dr Simon Hyde, general secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, which represents 296 leading private schools, called for a public inquiry into the A-levels “shambles”.

He said: “We need to understand why important decisions were taken once exams were cancelled to try and use statistics to predict every individual student’s grade.”

Shadow Attorney General Lord Falconer said Ofqual’s controversial exam results algorithm was unlawful.

He wrote to Mr Williamson in a joint letter with Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green that ministers and Ofqual would have been aware of at least three breaches of the law in the formula used.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged calls to increase student places at medical schools and promised the Government is working on the issue.

Dr Helena McKeown, of the British Medical Association, said: “This must be followed up with support and funding.”

University Alliance chief Vanessa Wilson said: “We are keen to support growth in areas of strategic priority. In return we need financial support.”





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