GCSE annoncment welcome but Minister must put AS/A Level grades fiasco right

August 17, 2020 1 min read

Monday 17 August 2020

Green Party NI Education Spokesperson, Cllr Simon Lee has responded to an announcement that GCSE results will be based on predicted grades, without the standardisation process used in part to calculate AS and A Level grades.

Cllr Simon Lee said:

“The Education Minister has moved to ensure that GCSE grades will not include the standardisation process after much pressure from parents and pupils. Yet, the issue with AS and A Level results remains unaddressed.

“The Minister must direct his department to remove standardisation from AS and A Level grades and recalculate grades accordingly.

“The problem with awarding grades in this way was totally foreseeable given what happened in Scotland.

“Peter Weir has maintained standardisation for AS and A Level results and for many students that means the imposition of grades that don’t reflect their ability and effort.

“Pupils, their parents and teachers rightly expect equality across our education system and at the heart of exam processes.

“The badge on a uniform or the postcode of a school should have nothing to do with how exam results are allocated.

“The approach of the Minister regarding AS and A Levels further highlights the

culture of elitism that is entrenched in our education system.”

Cllr Lee concluded:

“The Green Party NI will stand with pupils and parents until the Education Minister puts this fiasco right.”

ENDS

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