In the earlier half of March of this year, most A-Level and GCSE students were anticipating their upcoming exams, as well as the results day that followed a few months after. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which signalled the closure of schools; cancellation of exams; misconceptions and lack of clear information, left many students uncertain of the future to come.
There had been much speculation about how grades were to be awarded, with some suggesting that mock grades, predicted grades or calculated grades to be awarded, or a postponed exam series once the pandemic was controlled.
There was a lack of solid information presented at the beginning of lockdown, as it is clear that governing bodies were still yet to agree on measures and procedures about the 2020 exam series. The lack of government clarification about the next steps, and what was to happen had only fuelled misconceptions about the appeals process and how autumn exams were to go forward.
As you have likely heard, both Highers and A-Level students were downgraded, as A-Level teacher assessment grades were downgraded by nearly 39.1%. Unsurprisingly, many students felt betrayed by the government as their futures had now become even more ambiguous than what was first conceived. This was further worsened as the night before A-Level results day, MP Gavin Williamson (Secretary for Education) had said that there would be a “Triple Lock” for A-Levels, in response to fears of a repeated scenario in Scotland a week prior. Yet, for many this was unfulfilled, leaving many furious and even more stressed on results day.
“[The situation is] ridiculous and completely unfair, because since we’re now allowed to use our mock grades, which was supposed to be a good thing and an improvement… [it] didn’t even matter because many places had been given away, so people who would have gotten in off mocks no longer could. It just doesn’t matter.” — Anonymous about the failure to fulfil the ‘Triple Lock’
It is no secret that the A-Level results day did not go well for all students as they tend to every year. However, what sets this year apart is the current pandemic and the vast percentage of downgrades which affected many. It is likely you or someone you know has their fair share of opinions and experiences for this results day.
In preparation for this article, I asked GCSE and A-Level students for their experiences on result’s day, as well as what they had anticipated. In all honesty, I was expecting a few positive entries, but to my surprise, the entries were overwhelmingly negative, with over 93.75% being so.
Entries about A-Level Result’s Day:
“It was so stressful! [UCAS] track didn’t work for ages and neither did our school's grade system.”
— Anonymous
“No one expected this to happen while we were doing our mocks and other past exams… This is a corrupt and unjust algorithm that has downgraded so many students, disproportionately impacted those of disadvantaged backgrounds and mostly favouring wealthier privately educated students. This once again indicates the elitist Tory policies, perpetuating class inequality. There are so many futures that have been affected by our resets and the govt. needs to make urgent changes.”
— Anonymous
Hopes and anticipations for GCSE Result’s Day:
“At the moment I’m not stressed I have no reason to be. Do I care what my grades will be? Yeah, I do, I want to pass, I’m going to pass. Am I afraid it will affect my future? Not really. Do I feel like my life is going downhill if I get sh*t grades? Nah, I don’t.
Why do I feel like this is? Because grades aren’t everything if you’re not going to university, but if you are then you’re f*****, because you can’t really go to study Biomed if you’re getting 1s and 2s in bio and chemistry.”
— Vincent Pham, GCSE student
I spoke to several friends about their university admission experiences, and only three of them had been accepted into their first choice university. Others were lucky enough to still be admitted to their insurance choice, but a larger than expected group were rejected and immediately released into clearing. Some of these students had been rejected from top Russell Group universities, who had hopes of studying Biomedicine, Law, English Literature, Mathematics and more. What surprised me even more, was that they all had a good track record of obtaining perfect grades, yet they were denied the opportunity to attend their chosen universities in the Fall.
It was heart-breaking to hear how so they had the stress of having to call up universities to try to re-earn their places with their mock grades and promises that their appeals would likely yield in higher grades. Yet the common outcome between my friends resulted in either the university holding their place until their appealed grades came through before the deadline or before their unreserved space was taken.
As alluded to before, the information produced by both the DfE and Ofqual was confusing, and in the situation of appeals, information between the two bodies was contradictory. There were messages that appealed grades could result in further downgrading, or that it would remain unchanged if the candidate was not worthy of a grade change. Some also interpreted one of the many supposed appeals processes as guilting students into not appealing out of fears that if they were to gain a higher grade, their peers would move lower down the class ranking and receive a lower grade in order to fit the moderation model.
Part of the reason why I am proud to be part of such an active generation is that students across the UK protested against the clearly unfair results. Even if they were unable to attend physical demonstrations, students still were able to show their discontent by reaching out to their local MPs, signing petitions, and speaking out. To their merit, as part of the many U-Turns the government has done this month, students were awarded the “urgent changes” they had protested for; as A-Level grades were announced to be based on their Centre Assessment Grades (CAGs) if these were higher than their calculated grades.
Since the U-Turn, some students have been enrolled into their firm choice with their newly issued grades, others even now, are yet to find out if they are to be admitted or not. Others have redirected their hopes of attending university in the Fall by going through clearing, which in itself has been difficult as universities have been seeking International students. For others who were unable to gain places at their chosen universities, some have chosen to take a gap year as they either wish to sit A level exams, or their firm has not been able to allocate them space at this time.
If you are considering a gap year, here are some ideas:
Travel abroad when it is safe
Learn a new skill or language (i.e. British Sign Language, or cooking)
Get a job (maybe in your town, or even abroad as there are often opportunities for people to live and work around the World)
Start a new hobby, or focus on an existing one (i.e. if you are into music production, maybe you could dedicate some time to writing, composing, recording or performing)
Continue education by starting a new course with a nearby college
Whilst the situations for both Higher and A-Level students appeared to possibly be replicated for their own results day, luckily for Vincent and other GCSE students, they received their CAGs.
As the futures of 2020 students are gradually becoming less ambiguous, the classes of 2020 will never forget the stress, the lack of clarification throughout and the fact that a computer, with no knowledge of student’s personal progress and individual case, had at that point ultimately decided their pathway.
Starting off the September cycle of writers is Katrina! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece and it has educated myself more on the unequal nature of the education system. As I am in my final year of university, I can only imagine what these students were feeling and so it was great to read it not just from Katrina's perspective but, all students viewpoints. Education is one path but, there are so many others. If the education system failed you this year please remember that rejection is redirection. There is a bigger and better plan we all have so try to hold on and continue to fight for what you believe in.
I agree so strongly, I am incredibly proud of the generation we are in and I look forward to seeing everything Katrina and the class of 2020 achieve in the future.
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