Parents of students who took their GCSEs today have expressed criticism of the “unfair” return to pre-pandemic grading, while one union has called for another year of transition. Hundreds of thousands of British teenagers received their results today, with grading in England returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, experts have noted that students have faced disruptions from COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, which have disproportionately affected those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Pupils in England have been more impacted than those in Wales and Northern Ireland, which have taken an additional year to transition back to 2019 grading.
Some parents have voiced their anger towards the government, blaming them entirely for the perceived unfair treatment of students. They argue that the fact that their first year was during a lockdown should have been taken into consideration. One student shared their frustration, stating that their grades had been downgraded despite performing better than their mock exams.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, recognizes that the extra year of transition taken by Wales and Northern Ireland has influenced this year’s results. Meanwhile, one headteacher in Brighton expressed delight at the GCSE results of the year group most affected by COVID-19, reporting that their pupils had performed on par with previous years.
Despite these mixed reactions, students are reminded that disparities in grading across different parts of the UK are well-known by educational institutions, employers, and training providers, and will be taken into account. While some feel that students have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, teacher strikes, stricter marking, and increased grade boundaries, a balanced perspective acknowledges the challenging backdrop against which students have achieved their results.
The overall proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has fallen from last year but remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, the proportion of entries achieving a standard pass has decreased slightly from last year but is still higher than in 2019. Ofqual, the exams regulator in England, has implemented measures to ensure fairness in grading, allowing students to receive grades they would have obtained pre-pandemic even if their work is slightly weaker this year.
Looking at the breakdown across the UK, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have experienced decreases in the percentage of entries achieving top grades compared to last year. However, Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of top grades, followed by Wales. Both Wales and Northern Ireland expect to fully return to pre-pandemic levels next year.
It is worth noting that the pandemic led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021, as teacher assessments replaced exams. Despite the variations in results and the ongoing debate about fairness, students should be proud of their achievements in the face of difficult circumstances.
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