News

Starmer: Government risks ‘robbing a generation of their future’

Starmer NASUWT teachers

The government risks “robbing a generation of young people of their future” unless it addresses concerns about unfairness in the issuing of exam grades this year, Sir Keir Starmer has warned.

The leader of the opposition has warned that “thousands of hard-working young people risk having their futures decided on the basis of their postcode”.

His comments come as A-level and GCSE students across England prepare to receive their grades, this year issued by schools and standardised by exam boards in lieu of formal tests.

Labour is concerned that pupils in certain schools will be unfairly treated because the historical outcomes of their institutions have been taken into account.

Ofqual, the exams regulator, has sought to reassure pupils that results this year will be “slightly higher than in previous years”, despite the fact school-provided grades have had to be hauled down by as much as 12 percentage points.

“It’s a blatant injustice that thousands of hard-working young people risk having their futures decided on the basis of their postcode,” said Starmer, who called on the government for a system of “credible appeals and resits” to help them correct their grades.

“Unless Boris Johnson acts, he risks robbing a generation of young people of their future.”

Labour is also calling for “urgent” clarity on which pupils are likely to be worst-affected by the standardisation model used. It comes after poorer pupils were disproportionately impacted in Scotland, where ministers today announced that they would withdraw all grades that had been downgraded as a result of moderation.

“Pupils and parents are rightly worried that years of hard work are about to be undone because a computer has decided to mark their child down,” Starmer added.

“It’s a blatant injustice that thousands of hard-working young people risk having their futures decided on the basis of their postcode.”

Latest education roles from

Biology GCSE Tutor (Variable Hours)

Biology GCSE Tutor (Variable Hours)

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Work Experience Support Assistant

Work Experience Support Assistant

Bournemouth and Poole College

EHCP & SEND Administrator

EHCP & SEND Administrator

Bournemouth and Poole College

Director of Governance

Director of Governance

Stanmore College

Lecturer in Policing and Public Services

Lecturer in Policing and Public Services

West Suffolk College

Part Time Variable Hours Tutor of Construction and the Built Environment

Part Time Variable Hours Tutor of Construction and the Built Environment

York College

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Comments

  1. Fred Ruddick

    Mock exams are exactly that. We tell our children that they provide indicators about what to improve for the real thing. My older daughter would have only achieved two passes at mock, but achieved seven in the actual exams. Mock results are not reliable indicators. Better a flawed teacher assessment than a deeply flawed statistical algorithm to decide a young persons future. Parents will not forgive a Ofqual or the Government. Follow the Scottish and have compassion for the students already impacted by Covid-19.

  2. Janet Downs

    Surely it’s time to overhaul the exam system and move towards graduation at 18 via multiple routes (including existing exams and pathways to avoid massive disruption). Reform the accountability system at the same time: it discriminates against schools which face multiple problems including disadvantage, intakes skewed towards low-attaining pupils, a mobile pupil population and churning workforce.