The government must step in and support students who have missed out on their first-place courses and provide financial protections to higher education to protect jobs, two education unions have said.
In a joint letter to the education secretary Gavin Williamson, the University and College Union (UCU) and National Union of Students (NUS) have set out the concerns of students and staff after the government’s U-turn on A-level and GCSE grades.
The unions have also urged the government to extend the use of centre assessment grades to BTECs and other affected qualifications, and to share details of the equality impact assessment that was conducted as part of the original approach to grading.
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In a statement from Ofqual this afternoon, it was confirmed that any vocational grades - including BTECs - that had been downgraded due to statistical standardisation approach would be reviewed.
The union’s letter also raised concerns about the removal of the student number cap for universities. It called on the government to provide financial support to the sector so that universities are able to safely welcome students next term and continue to provide world-class teaching and research.
UCU’s general secretary Jo Grady said that staff were now facing “unbearable workloads” to deal with the “government’s exam results fiasco”.
She said: “Removing the student number cap means certain universities can hoover up students hitting the finances of other institutions. It now needs to provide substantial financial support to the sector so that universities can protect all jobs, safely welcome students and continue to provide world-class teaching and research.”
NUS president Larissa Kennedy said: “Yesterday’s U-turn will not redress the harm that is done to students every year in every postcode by this racist, classist and ableist assessment system. The government must commit to overhauling the exam and grading system for good so that every student has a fair chance to succeed.
“There are still many questions to be answered around how university admissions will work this year and how BTEC students and private candidates will be assessed. But this week has highlighted the power that staff and students have when we come together. We will continue to fight for #JusticeForEducation and an end to educational injustice once and for all.”
