Education Secretary Gavin Williamson defended the Government’s last minute change to the A-level result grading system in England. While on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme with Nick Robinson, Mr Williamson insisted the Government wanted to ensure maximum fairness for all students. On Wednesday Mr Williamson said students would be able to benefit from being allowed to appeal their grade results and have them replaced with their mock exam results or taking exams in October.
Nick Robinson said: “You will know that these are anxious days.
“What really contributes to this anxiety is the uncertainty, the not knowing.
“Do you accept that the way Government has handled this, the change yesterday at the last minute, the fact the headlines were nothing like the actual policy, the fact that many people were not told about the policy has merely added to the uncertainty and made an already difficult day worse for people?”
Mr Williamson replied: “On this whole process we did one of the largest consultations that have ever been undertaken in terms of what Ofqual did.
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“We had the highest number of responses that Ofqual had ever received on any public consultations.”
The BBC radio host interrupted to say: “Sure, but then you changed your mind at the last minute.
“People understand that but you didn’t stick to your guns, at the last minute you blinked.”
Mr Williamson defended the Government’s decision and reiterated he believed the majority of students would receive the grades they expected.
The Education Secretary has still faced a backlash following his apology for any disruption caused over the last few months.
Mr Williamson has admitted that he is aware of the confusion and anxiousness felt around the country but insisted the Government had made the best decisions possible.
Some headteachers have warned of significant downgrading for their pupil’s results after seeing the grades earlier.
With some students seeing their results downgraded by as much as 40 percent, 2 grades lower than predicted.
