Tory MPs Urge Government To 'Look Again' At A-Levels Algorithm That Downgraded Poorest Students
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A former minister led calls for the government to rethink computer modelling that disproportionately downgraded the A-level results of poorer students.
Tim Loughton, a former children’s minister, said in a post on his website on Friday he had urged education secretary Gavin Williamson to “look again” at the algorithm used by the regulator Ofqual in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown.
The results sparked a furious backlash from youngsters, teachers and parents this week, after almost 40% of results were downgraded, with private school students benefiting in comparison to those at state schools.
Though the number of passes and top grades increased overall, some students’ predicted marks were slashed by up to two grades.
It has left thousands scrambling for a university place via clearing and many others blocked from taking up long-hoped-for places at top institutions.
Loughton admitted “hugely disappointed students” were now in “extraordinarily distressing” circumstances, despite their hard work.
He went on to say: “I have made the point to ministers that they should look at the algorithm again for those who have missed out on their place in further education, and also that assessed exams/mocks be the primary basis for appeal.”
Williamson made an eleventh hour concession on Wednesday to allow students to appeal and base their result on their mock exam grade if the final result was worse.
It came after a major U-turn by the Scottish Government saw its downgraded results for Highers exams revoked.
Thousands of young people also took part in a protest outside Downing Street on Friday, calling for Williamson to resign.
Rob Halfon, chairman of the Commons’ education select committee, meanwhile, called on Ofqual to urgently meet with schools.
“I am worried about it because some figures suggest that disadvantaged...
