The UK government is standing firm on its decision to standardise A-level grades, despite mounting pressure following a Scottish U-turn that saw pass rates soar. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has introduced a 'triple lock' system, allowing pupils to accept their awarded grades, appeal via schools, or sit exams in autumn. However, ministers are resisting calls to abandon the moderation process entirely.
Ofqual has warned that without standardisation, pass rates could rise by 12 percentage points for A-levels and 9 per cent for GCSEs. Research from University College London indicates that up to 74 per cent of predicted grades overestimate actual performance, with 80 per cent of teacher predictions from a previous year being inaccurate.
The move comes after Scotland's exam results sparked fury, with around 125,000 pupils downgraded before the government reversed course. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the situation as a 'complete fiasco', warning that deprived areas could be disproportionately affected. He called for individual appeals and mandatory college places for affected students.
Meanwhile, home-schooled children face uncertainty as they were not included in the assessed grade system. Tory MP Robert Halfon said these children had been 'forgotten', as they may have to wait until autumn exams, potentially missing university or college deadlines. The number of home-schooled children rose by 15 per cent last year to over 60,000.
