MIKE HILL: Education Secretary’s apology for results fiasco rings hollow

People take part in a peaceful protest in Parliament Square, London, in response to the downgrading of A-level results. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

The fiasco that resulted from the release of artificially downgraded A-level awards last week unfortunately overshadowed the release of BTEC results and the huge success of Hartlepool students getting their qualifications. The Government did a swift U-turn and ditched the unfair formula used to estimate grades, but they did so after the damage was done, after all the distress among students, after the anger of teachers, trade unions, and, significantly, after the same outcomes had occurred in Scotland over a fortnight ago. They have taken the right corrective action, but they have been forced into this U-turn and all attempts by the Education Secretary to apologise ring hollow.

The A-level result situation understandably led to a high volume of emails into my office on the subject, but is just one amongst a whole host of issues raised with me since March when the terms ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘lockdown’ crept into everyday vocabulary. In that time, I’ve responded to over 5,000 emails, phone calls and letters from constituents, many of whom had personal problems which they needed help with. Of course, in some circumstances it’s beyond my jurisdiction to help, but I am proud that my team have made a difference to the lives and livelihoods of many people, despite all the operational difficulties that have been encountered.

We’ve never stopped and rightly so; the needs of constituents always come first. The same goes for others, I know, who have adapted to working from home to keep services going. Some things have had to change and one of them has been my Friday surgeries. Don’t get me wrong they still happen, but they are telephone based for now; yes, it’s another consequence of COVID, but it does keep that important connection going.

So, the work continues apace despite the recess. I’m out and about visiting local businesses and community groups. Whatever the new normal is going to be, some aspects of my job thankfully never change – the opportunity to meet wonderful people working hard for their community.”