Thousands to receive GCSE grades based on teacher estimates

By Q Radio News and PA

Thousands of students in Northern Ireland are set to receive GCSE grades based on teacher estimates.

It comes after Stormont education minister Peter Weir abandoned plans to use centralised standardisation following an outcry from teachers, parents and pupils over last week’s A-level results.

Teachers’ estimates will be awarded to GCSE candidates unless the computer algorithm which produced the centralised score gave a higher grade.

Exams were cancelled earlier this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The algorithm used in lieu of exams saw more than a third of A-level grades issued last Thursday reduced from teacher estimates, sparking criticism and protests by students.

Mr Weir defended the system, saying his department had set out to provide a system that was “fair and credible”, adding “any system that was going to be put in will have problems with fairness”.

“Covid meant that there was no established process for how to achieve this so all processes had to be developed at a pace,” he said.

“Everyone recognised there was no perfect solution but the arrangements were the best available given the circumstances.”

GCSE students in England and Wales will also be given estimates by their teachers.

Whilst GCSE students will receive their results as scheduled today, BTEC students were told late last night that their results would not be published today.

Surely they must have known before this eleventh hour that they were having difficulties with the issuing of grades.  The wellbeing of their students should have been paramount and any potential delay immediately communicated to all students who anxiously await their grade.  

Exam board Pearson has asked schools and colleges not to publish level one and two results for vocational courses as it wants more time to recalculate grades following the fiasco over A-level results.

The UUP Education Spokesperson Robbie Butler spoke to Q Radio about the last minute change to BTECs:

Reacting to the news, the SDLP Education Spokesperson, Sinead Bradley said,

"Just when we thought the results fiasco could not get much worse this horrendous last minute announcement comes from the exam body Pearsons relating to BTEC qualifications. 

"Surely they must have known before this eleventh hour that they were having difficulties with the issuing of grades.  The wellbeing of their students should have been paramount and any potential delay immediately communicated to all students who anxiously await their grade."  

🎥 Getting your GCSE results today?

Christina Kelly from @Economy_NI Careers Service is here to tell you how to access their help and support.

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— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020

Christina Kelly is from the Department for the Economy's Careers Service, and says it's important that pupils remember there are options when finishing GCSEs.

🎥 One pathway is for students to stay on at school to complete A Levels or BTECs.

There’s also options to go to a further education college for more vocational, academic, professional and technical courses.

Here’s Christina’s advice:
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— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020

🎥 School or college isn’t for everyone.

Christina Kelly suggests that some students may want to look at going into training or complete an apprenticeship.

Here’s her advice:

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— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 20, 2020