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With #GCSE2020 results in just two days, where do we find ourselves now? There's been an awful lot of updates and U turns over the past week. For those feeling a bit overwhelmed, here's a breakdown of what you need to know - including key articles from @tes. (THREAD)
Last Thursday was #AlevelResults day. We learned that nearly 40 per cent of teacher estimates had been downgraded as part of the @Ofqual standardisation process, leading to heartbreak for thousands of students. https://www.tes.com/news/levels-2020-39-teachers-grades-moderated-down
Disadvantaged students were also hit particularly hard - despite assurances from @Ofqual that there was "no bias" in the system. https://www.tes.com/news/A-levels-2020-no-bias-grading-ofqual-says
So, would the government change tack? No, not at this stage. But @GavinWilliamson did announce all appeals would be free. It was a start, but dismay and confusion were still rife. https://www.tes.com/news/level-appeals-be-free-downgraded-students
Shortly before A-level results were out, the government announced its "triple lock" system - whereby students could choose from three options: using CAGs, taking exams in the autumn, or - and this was the new part - appealing on the basis of mock grades. https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-mock-a-level-and-gcse-grades-equal-official-results
But as students opened their results on Thursday, they still had no idea what would constitute a "valid" mock. Enter @Ofqual, again, who released new guidance over the weekend. Despite previous assurances, it now appeared mocks would not count if they were higher than CAGs.
Just hours after this guidance was issued, @Ofqual took it back. Why? Well, an explanation was not immediately available. Not particularly helpful. https://www.tes.com/news/level-chaos-deepens-ofqual-suspends-appeal-rules
That brings us to yesterday, when we still had no idea how mock appeals would work. Speculation grew throughout the day that a U-turn might be on the horizon. The Welsh government announced it they would use teacher estimates for both GCSEs and A levels. https://www.tes.com/news/welsh-u-turn-over-gcse-and-A-level-grading
And then, at 4pm, students in England were told they would receive whichever was highest out of their CAGs or moderated grades. It was an extraordinary moment, after weeks of the government insisting the @Ofqual model was the way to go. https://www.tes.com/news/u-turn-will-see-A-level-and-gcse-teacher-grades-stand
An extra layer of confusion was added last night, when @educationgovuk said "official results" would be delayed until next week, with students only getting their CAGs on Thursday.
But @GavinWilliamson contradicted his own department this morning, saying that students would find out their actual grade this Thursday, with certificates delayed until "a week later". https://www.tes.com/news/gcses-2020-more-dfe-chaos-over-timing-results
Despite so many U-turns I'm surprised he didn't fall over, @GavinWilliamson has batted off calls for his resignation. He also claimed @Ofqual "didn't deliver" the exams system the government had been told would be in place. https://www.tes.com/news/exams-u-turn-williamson-bats-resignation-talk
Phew! What a journey. And it's not over yet. The team at @tes will continue to bring you all updates as they happen.
