Gavin Williamson showed he is an “A* individual and an A* secretary of state” during the exam grade debacle this summer, according to a Cabinet minister.

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg defended the education secretary after he came under fire from Labour.

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Mr Williamson has apologised to pupils but resisted calls to resign over his role in the saga.

Criticism from students, headteachers and a backlash by Tory MPs led to the Government last month announcing that A-level and GCSE grades would be based on teachers’ assessments rather than the controversial algorithm devised by regulator Ofqual.

Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz said: “On Tuesday, (Mr Williamson) didn’t apologise for the debacle.

“All he said was he was deeply sorry that those who have borne the brunt have been students, nothing about the mistake, no mention that students had to demonstrate to be heard.”

Mr Rees-Mogg responded: “I think (Mr Williamson) has done an absolutely first-class job under difficult circumstances and the truth is… he is an A* individual and an A* secretary of state, not on estimated grades but on the facts before us.

“And we know he is an A* secretary of state because he was able to react to a situation quickly and put it right.

“The real success of governments is when there is a problem being able to put it right and that is what (Mr Williamson) did and for which he deserves the most enormous credit.”