Students across the UK will now receive exam grades based on their teachers’ recommendations, after a dramatic policy reversal following widespread anger over algorithmic moderation.
The original system, which used an algorithm to adjust predicted grades, led to nearly 40% of A-level results being downgraded. Teachers’ centre-assessed grades had been fed into the Ofqual system, but the algorithm took into account schools’ past performance, triggering a furore.
In England, exam boards will issue new grades as soon as possible, with updated data sent to Ucas before the end of the week. For GCSE students, schools can inform pupils of their centre-assessed grades on Thursday, though official notification will be delayed until next week to allow for cases where the moderated grades were higher.
Devolved administrations have also moved quickly. Scotland will provide new grades by 21 August, with certificates to follow. Northern Ireland’s education minister, Peter Weir, said revised results would be released as quickly as possible, while Wales has yet to give a timeframe.
Universities are bracing for challenges at this late stage in admissions. The government has removed caps on recruitment and dropped restrictions on English students studying elsewhere in the UK. Universities UK chief executive Alistair Jarvis said the government must “step up and support universities” amid capacity and staffing pressures. Students can keep whichever grade is higher.
