GOOD LOCK, KIDS
‘Triple lock’ lets students in England choose best A-level or GCSE grade from 3 options to prevent Scottish-style fiasco
A NEW “triple lock” aims to give youngsters in England fair A-level and GCSE scores — and to prevent a Scottish-style fiasco.
Pupils will be able to choose whatever is highest out of their computer-moderated grade, mock grade or a September re-sit if they opt for it.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had to rip up the system at the 11th hour amid fears for poor pupils’ results.
Scotland overturned more than 124,000 results after admitting less well-off children had been penalised by computer moderation, leading to a grovelling apology from the Scottish National Party, which runs the nation’s schools.
In a dramatic U-turn, Scotland’s education chief John Swinney said pupils will be given higher grades based solely on their teacher assessment.
He told the Scottish Parliament: “We did not get it right for all young people. I want to apologise for that.“I’m speaking directly to the young people affected by the downgrading of awards - the 75,000 pupils whose teacher estimates were higher than their final award - I want to say this - I am sorry.”
Experts had warned England faced a similar mess but Mr Williamson said:
“Every young person waiting for their results wants to know that they have been treated fairly.
“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 steps forward in work or education.
“No one wanted to cancel exams – they are the best and fairest form of assessment, but the disruption caused by Covid-19 meant they were not possible.
“This triple lock system will help make sure that we award the fairest results possible and reassure our young people and help them get on with the next stage of their lives.”
Labour had seized on Scotland’s chaos to urge No10 to act.
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Leader Sir Keir Starmer warned that the lives of hundreds of thousands of youngsters could be blighted because “the computer says no”.
He said: "The SNP have been forced into a humiliating U-turn after a shambolic few days.
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“With 24 hours before results are released, I would urge the Prime Minister to change course, or he risks robbing a generation of their future.”
Whitehall sources insisted computer moderation would not be scrapped but allowing mock grades if higher would give pupils extra protection.
An extra £30million will be handed to schools to fund resit exams in September for pupils unhappy with their marks.
All 125,000 Scottish Higher grades which were marked down are overturned and replaced with teachers’ marks
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