Teachers are warning that a predicted reduction in top A-level grades next week could have a significant impact on the mental health of pupils, who they say already feel they have received an 'unfair deal' after two years of disruption caused by the pandemic.
Julie Richardson, headteacher of Verulam School in St Albans, expressed concern that a 10% fall in A* and A grades, as forecast by the University of Buckingham, would cause distress among students who experienced the GCSE algorithm fiasco in 2020. 'That won’t be forgotten, so they will feel incredibly hard done by if [they receive lower grades] next week,' she said.
Richardson noted that staffing shortages, including a long period without a religious education teacher, have added to the challenges faced by the 'Covid generation'. She said her staff would support pupils through clearing, but acknowledged many would be disappointed if they missed their university place.
Maija, a teacher from a state school in Portsmouth, said she felt 'very nervous' for her students, some of whom are already planning to take a gap year if they do not meet their offers. She argued that online learning was not comparable to face-to-face teaching, leaving many pupils underprepared for exams. 'Most of them, if you spoke to them, would say they had an unfair deal,' she added.
