The Library has produced two briefings relevant to this debate:

Officials from the Exams Regulator, Ofqual, appeared before the Education Select Committee on 2 September 2020. The full oral evidence session has been published by the Committee: The impact of Covid-19 on education and children’s services, HC 254, 2 September 2020. The Committee had previously published Getting the grades they’ve earned: Covid-19: The cancellation of exams and “calculated” grades (HC617) on 11 July 2020.

A list of official press releases and documents, primarily from the Department for Education and Ofqual, can be found below. This is followed by a selection of recent news articles.

Official Press Releases & Documents

Written statement from Chair of Ofqual to the Education Select Committee

Ofqual

2 September 2020

Letter from Roger Taylor to the Royal Statistical Society

Ofqual

22 August 2020

EHRC statement on GCSE and A-level results

Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) on Politics Home

18 August 2020

Review of statistical models used for grading 2020 exam results

Office for Statistics Regulation

18 August 2020

GCSE and A level students to receive centre assessment grades

Department for Education

17 August 2020

Statement from Roger Taylor, Chair, Ofqual

Ofqual

17 August 2020 

Response to the Secretary of State’s announcement of 12 August 2020

Ofqual

12 August 2020 

Triple lock for students ahead of A level and GCSE results

Department for Education

12 August 2020

The fairest way to recognise student’s achievements this year- by Roger Taylor, Chair

Ofqual

9 August 2020

Fairness in awarding

Ofqual

6 August 2020

Guidance: Requirements for the calculation of results in summer 2020

Ofqual

7 July 2020

Guidance: Awarding qualifications in summer 2020 [withdrawn 20 August]

Ofqual

3 April 2020

Rt Hon Gavin Williamson letter to Sally Collier Chief Regulator Ofqual, 31 March 2020 

News Articles

This is a selection of recent news and media articles relevant to the debate. Please note that the Library is not responsible for either the views or the accuracy of external content.

Ofqual and the exams fiasco: 7 super interesting things we learned

Schools Week

2 September 2020

Ofqual: “Fundamental mistake” to believe algorithm grades would “ever be acceptable to the public”

Schools Week

2 September 2020

The exams catastrophe: 16 questions that must still be answered

Higher Education Policy Institute

2 September 2020

Williamson told about flaws in A-level model two weeks before results

Guardian

1 September 2020

Boris Johnson pins the blame on “mutant” exam algorithm

The Times

27 August 2020

Gavin Williamson should go

Institute for Government

Bronwen Maddox

27 August 2020

Top education mandarin ousted as Boris Johnson calls for “fresh” leadership following exams chaos

The Independent

26 August 2020

ASCL writes to Ofqual over “deflated grades” fears

Schools Week

26 August 2020

How might Ofqual have avoided this turmoil?

Higher Education Policy Institute

John Craven

22 August 2020

GCSE results 2020: Glut of top grades is a headache for sixth formers

The Times

21 August 2020

Minister admits he was warned about concerns over exams algorithm

The Guardian

20 August 2020

Gavin Williamson was warned about risk of exam fiasco

The Times

20 August 2020

Ofqual ignored exams warning a month ago amid ministerial pressure

The Guardian

19 August 2020

A-levels: Algorithm at centre of grading crisis “unlawful” say Labour

BBC News

19 August 2020

Stats watchdog to launch review into Ofqual’s results algorithm

Schools Week

18 August 2020

More A-level results style disasters await until we tame the algorithm

Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

Anthony Painter

17 August 2020

A level “chaos” risks widening north-south divide, regional leaders warn

The Independent

14 August 2020

Royal Statistical Society statement on grade adjustment in UK exams in 2020

Royal Statistical Society

14 August 2020

“Enough is enough” says heads’ union as it demands government review

Schools Week

13 August 2020

A-levels: Anger over “unfair” results this year

BBC News

13 August 2020

Williamson: We spent “considerable time” on mocks plan

Times Education Supplement

13 August 2020

Williamson apologies for school and exam disruption

BBC News

12 August 2020

Exams 2020: 40% of A-level grades “adjusted”, minister reveals

Schools Week

12 August 2020

A-level results: University chiefs in urgent talks with ministers to stem exam confusion

The Times

12 August 2020

A-level students can use grades in mock exams to progress to degree courses

ITV News

11 August 2020


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