Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is considering a legal challenge against Ofqual following yesterday’s A-level results.

The mayor and former shadow education secretary said he had met with college leaders from across Greater Manchester today, and had heard a “consistent account of colleges not receiving the grades that they had submitted for their students and experiencing a significant downgrading of marks compared to previous years”.

He added: “But worse, I heard stories of young people, who have already suffered a terrible year, having yet another injustice done to them. One college head spoke of 1,600 students being marked down and just 10 being marked up. Another spoke of young people being given a fail for exams they didn’t even have the opportunity to sit.”

Background: A-level results: Colleges call for a review

Robert Halfon: Prove system is fair before GCSE results day

More: Grades lower in nine out of 10 sixth-form colleges

Mr Burnham said it was clear to him that the system used to award A levels this year was “inherently biased against larger educational institutions”.

A-level grading process 'can't go unchallenged'

“Given that a higher proportion of students from Greater Manchester attend such institutions than in other parts of the country, I am concerned that the marking system has been unfairly discriminatory against young people here, in part due to the institutions they attend," he added.

“This seems to be backed up by the official Ofqual figures that indicate that the North West has been the region most affected, reflecting the higher number of large educational institutions in our area. As mayor, I cannot hear stories of young people in Greater Manchester having their futures so unfairly damaged without taking a stand on their behalf.

“That is why I am considering all options to challenge this unfair process, including a legal challenge against [Ofqual].”

A spokesperson for Ofqual said: "The arrangements we put in place this summer are the fairest possible to facilitate students progressing on to further study or employment as planned. We have been transparent about the principles of our standardisation model since April, and the data it would make use of. Precise detail of the model has been published. 

“Schools and colleges can appeal if they believe there has been an error or that the moderation process has not produced a reliable result. Students will also be able to take an exam in the autumn, if they would like an opportunity to improve their grade.”