Sunderland University boss says universities left to 'pick up the pieces' of A-level downgrading

The chief executive of Sunderland University has said that they – and other centres – have been left to “pick up the pieces” as students continue to face uncertainty over their futures following an A-level U-turn by the Government.
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Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland, was speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme in the aftermath of a last-minute change by the Government, which said students would be able to receive grades based on their teachers’ estimates following anger over the downgrading of thousands of A-levels.

Results day took place last Thursday (August 13) and led to countless calls for the Government’s so-called “triple lock” algorithm and approach to calculating grades to be scrapped.

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According to data from exam regulator Ofqual, around 39.1% of grades in England were lowered from teachers’ predictions.

Sunderland University Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell. Picture: David Wood.Sunderland University Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell. Picture: David Wood.
Sunderland University Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell. Picture: David Wood.

After days of criticism, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement yesterday (Monday, August 17) with just days to go until GCSE results are handed out this week.

Students who now have higher A-level grades amid the U-turn could still be asked to defer their place if there is no space left on their preferred course.

Speaking on Tuesday, August 18, Sir David said that the Education Secretary has left a number of questions “unanswered” for both students and educators still seeking clarity.

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He continued: “Caught in the crossfire here are the students and I think that's been the concern that everyone has had in the universities throughout this.

"Certainly speaking to students last week, their anger was not directed towards universities for what had happened it was directly fairly and squarely at central Government and goodness knows what they'll be thinking about the news of the last 24 hours.

"Our job now is to reassure them and be as flexible as possible.”

The vice-chancellor went on to praise the “quiet heroes” in university admissions across the country, who have spent the previous days offering advice and support to young people unsure of their next steps.

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At Sunderland University, Sir David and his colleagues plan to offer places “where they are still available” – but explained that universities cannot offer guarantees for every course and for each student.

He also called on the Government to be clear about its next steps, adding: “I think there's a really important responsibility now on Government to be very clear, very quickly about what the arrangement are and let's forget all the spin, all of that, let's just be honest about the situation and let students know the very practical steps we can all take to give them the best chance of getting to university.”

He also appeared on Tuesday’s Today programme, where he apologised to all of the young people affected.

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