Peterborough students ‘over the moon’ at Government’s A level U turn

A number of students thought they would miss out on a place at university after an algorithm saw predicted scores downgraded when A level results were published last week.

But now the algorithm has been scrapped, with youngsters able to use predicted grades instead.

Jessica Johnson (18) from, Eye, had attended Arthur Mellows Village College where she was studying A-Levels in History, English Language and Economics. With A’s predicted as her Centre Assessed Grades, she had her heart set on studying History at the University of Nottingham. But when she picked her results up, she was ‘disheartened’ to see an A in History, B in English Language and a B in Economics.

Today she said: “I’m over the moon! We all have the results we actually deserve. It’s just so nice seeing people in my university chats rejoin the courses because they finally have the grades to do what they wanted to originally.

“I think it was the best outcome for all of us and hopefully the GCSE students getting their results soon are a bit more at ease now.

“I think they should’ve done it in the first place. They knew something like this was going to happen as soon as the u-turn occurred after Scottish Highers results day. It would’ve been easier to delay A-Level results day to prevent all the chaos that it caused as it’s caused so much turmoil for students trying to achieve university places.”

In a similar position, student Darrius Pearson, (19), from Werrington who is currently a Year 1, BTEC Level Three Journalism student at Peterborough Regional College has been downgraded in a major module that could affect his final grading next year.

Having been a consistent student gaining Distinctions and Merits,the equivalent to A’s and B’s at A-Levels, Darrius was awarded a Pass, equivalent to a C, a grade he has never received.

Today he said: I think it’s a good decision. It’s rare that the government takes any accountability for their actions. It’s good news for the education system, but I imagine universities and other institutions that rely on grades are going to be in an awkward position now.

“Anyone (myself included) that appealed their grade is probably unaware of what the stance is on their appeals and whether they will be redacted in favour of the predicted grades.

“I think they shouldn’t have made such a deplorable decision in the first place. Better late than never I guess. They obviously still needed a bit of time to assess the magnitude of their error.”

Daisy German (18) from Whittlesey was hoping to go to Leeds University to study midwifery - but one of her predicted A level scores was downgraded by three grades on Thursday. She is still not sure if she will be able to go to her first choice university.

She had achieved an A* in biology and sociology and a B in psychology in her mocks, and had been given an assessment of A* in sociology and A in biology and psychology - however, when the Sir Harry Smith student opened her A Level results on Thursday, she found she had been awarded an A in sociology and psychology but only a D in biology.

She said: “It is great that the government has made The U-turn but in my opinion it is five days too late.

“Although I am relieved that I now have the grades to get me into my firm choice (Leeds) there is still no guarantee that I will be able to start this year if the spaces are filled on the Midwifery course and I also still don’t know when I will find this out.

“The upset this has caused me and so many others in similar situations could have been avoided if the way we were graded was thought about beforehand.

“I also feel there has been no consideration of the impact this has had on students wellbeing and mental health. Getting the grades we deserve now doesn’t make up for the five plus days of stress or the University places students have missed out on because of this.”