A Level and GCSE results will be given on the basis of teacher assessments, it has been announced by the Government this afternoon.

There had been confusion and mounting anger amongst schools, students and their families following the publication of A Level results last Thursday. Centre Assessed Grades (awarded by teachers on the basis of mock exams, previous assessments, classroom work and knowledge of individual students) were moderated by Ofqual using an algorithm, resulting in a downgrading of almost 40% of the exam grades given. The Cornwall Association of Secondary Headteachers said that school leaders had been ’dismayed by the randomness of some of the decisions taken by Ofqual’.

Further dismay came when the Department for Education announced at the last minute that students could opt to take their mock exam result as their grade. This policy was also heavily criticised by the Cornwall Association of Secondary Headteachers. Its general secretary David Barton explained how teacher assessments had been thorough and fair using all the available evidence and carried out following strict criteria, whereas mock exams were run differently across different schools and ’not designed to be used in place of an exam result’.

This afternoon the Government has announced that both the A Level and GSCE results, which are due out on Thursday, will be awarded as per teacher assessed grades. This brings England into line with other UK nations.