A-levels: Students warned to expect lower grades

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Summary:

  • The impact of COVID-19 on education will not be taken into account for this year's A-level grades, leading many students to expect lower results.
  • Education Secretary Gillian Keegan emphasizes the importance of maintaining the value of qualifications and addressing the challenges faced by students who received grades during the disrupted years.
  • Changes in A-level grading due to COVID-19 have led to fluctuations in the distribution of top grades, with concerns raised about university readiness.
  • Students like Harry express hopes for fairness in the grading process despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.


Like thousands of other A-level students, Harry will soon find out what he's got and where it will lead him. But this year is different. The impact of COVID will not be taken into account. And the Westminster government says many must expect lower grades.


Challenges Faced During Disrupted Years

Teachers are away, we're away, we have to isolate, and we've missed key time with our teachers, which makes it very, very difficult for us. Come results day, research suggests that nearly 100,000 fewer A-stars and A's could be handed out.

Importance of Qualification Value

Writing in the Sunday Times, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said, 'It is vital that qualifications hold value so that universities and employers understand the distinction between grades when recruiting and pupils get the opportunities they deserve. It's thought that many teenagers who got their A-level results during COVID when exams were cancelled and teachers were awarding grades have struggled to cope at university.'

Changes in A-level Grade Distribution

In 2019, just over 25% of A-level grades were A or A star across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In the following two years, that number increased when teacher assessments were introduced due to COVID, peaking in 2021 when almost 45% of all A-level grades in England were A or A star. Although that dropped to below 40% last year, the number of top grades remained higher than pre-pandemic levels. If universities report that A-level students aren't coming into the system degree-ready, changing the degree boundaries at the last moment, which will negatively impact these young people who have worked really hard, is not going to have a meaningful change at all. It is difficult for those who've worked so hard to hear that there could be a huge fall in top marks.

Hopes for Fairness

Harry just hopes that he gets the grades he needs and that the process is fair. Lisa Dowd, Sky News, Sutton-Colefield.


Harry just hopes that he gets the grades he needs and that the process is fair. Lisa Dowd, Sky News, Sutton-Colefield.

Location: London, UK

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