The Principal of Frome Colllege, who last week expressed her disappointment at the grading system which was imposed on A level results, has welcomed the government's U turn today (August 17).

At 4pm the government announced that A-level and GCSE students in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm.

It follows widespread unhappiness of results imposed on students who did not sit an exam this year with a reported 40% of A-level grades lowered by exams regulator Ofqual, which used a formula based on schools' prior grades.

The statistical model was widely criticised for favouring private and smaller sized schools. Ofqual chair Roger Taylor and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson apologised for the "distress" caused.

Emma Reynolds sent Nub News a statement which started with: " Congratulations to our class of 2020."

It continued: " We are so pleased that, after days of deliberations, the Government has announced that Centre Assessed Grades will be the final results for A Levels and GCSEs this year.

"This is a welcome, fair and appropriate decision following on from such a stressful, inappropriate period for students nationally. I would like to thank all those Frome students, parents, governors and teachers who made their voice heard in protest and rejected the algorithm led, unfathomable and profoundly unfair moderation.

"Common sense has never been more welcome," wrote Emma Reynolds.

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The GCSE results are out this coming Thursday and the Principal added she will put out a full statement about both GCSE and A level results on Thursday and looks forward to sharing their many individual successes.

You can read her initial statement from last Thursday here:

the Nub News site