Council welcomes 'U-turn' on A-level and GCSE results

Leaders at Bury Council have welcomed the Government's announcement that teacher assessments will now be used for this year's A-level and GCSE results.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for children's services, young people and skills, said; "I am delighted the Government has finally seen sense and announced that students will receive the grades predicted by their teachers.

“It was sheer injustice the way that last week’s results were calculated, one which rightly caused a great deal of outrage and anguish for thousands of students and their families across Bury.

“Their futures depend on an accurate and realistic assessment of their abilities, which the current system singularly failed to do. It was obviously flawed and discriminated against students from sixth-form colleges, such as Holy Cross and Bury college here.

“I congratulate all our students for their outstanding work and also thank their parents and carers who have supported them during these unprecedented times of lockdown and disruption to their education.

“The Government in England should have acted earlier, like the Scottish Government did - apologised and changed the system to make it fair. We will always fight against unfairness of this kind, and I am glad they have finally seen the light and done the right thing.

“Our young people have now had justice, and I wish them the very best in their choice of career, work, or further study.”

ENDS

Issued: 17 August 2020.