Hartlepool student's downgraded A Level results go viral as MP hits out at 'insulting' grade changes for working class students

One tweet, which was posted by the older sister of a student at The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, demands to know how a student with mock exam grades of three A’s and centre accessed grades of two A*s and an A receives an exam result of B,B,C.

The tweet has gone viral on social media having received more than 42,000 likes as hundreds share similar stories.

Maura Regan, chief executive officer of the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust which English Martyrs Sixth Form College is a part of, said: “It's extremely disappointing that centre's assessments have not been accepted but rather a moderated process has taken place based on a statistical model which therefore does not fulfil the government's commitment that children will get the grades they deserve.

"I think the process has given little regard to the professional judgement of teachers and leaders."

The government has said students will be able to use their results in mock tests to appeal.

In an open letter to Gavin Williamson, MP Mike Hill said: “I understand that the total number of grades has risen slightly on last year. However, this makes the arbitrary deductions of grades for many working class students all the more insulting.

"I have seen evidence with my own eyes from sixth forms in my constituency where students who had achieved A grade mock exams result and A* grade centre-assessed coursework have been downgraded to B grade exams and overall results. This is simply unjust.

“I have heard stories of good, capable students being downgraded even as far as a U purely to fit into a historic trend. These results were in no way a reflection on academic achievement, nor do many of them take into account the input of their teachers who are the only people capable, in the absence of examinations, of making a judgement on the academic ability of a student.”

Mr Hill has called for advice for young people ‘worried about their futures’ what Mr Williamson intends to do about his ‘mistake’.

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