Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Haberdashers heads denounce A-level results, say grades 'do not do justice to students'

THE heads at the Haberdashers schools have decried the current A-level grading process, saying they “feel strongly that the vagaries of the system have let pupils in England down”.

In a letter sent to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, Gus Lock, headmaster at The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, and Rose Hardy, headmistress at the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, contended that “results this year do not appropriately reflect the hard work of many pupils”.


“Today it has become clear that, in many cases, an algorithm has generated results which do not do justice to students,” they said on Thursday (13).

“In many schools and in many academic departments, the results awarded are not only much lower than the Centre Assessed Grades, but actually well below any grades awarded in recent years.”

The criticism came as England's exam authority awarded lower grades than what teachers had predicted to almost 40 per cent of pupils studying for their main school-leaving exams.

Lock and Hardy noted that, despite assurances from Ofqual, “in too many cases there seems to be no clear relationship between the historical data and the grades awarded”.

They said it was “hard to understand” why the Centre Assessed Grades were downgraded “as radically as has been done”.

Many schools were “witnessing their lowest results of recent years” as an end result, they added.

“The stakes are high of course,” the heads cautioned, adding that the grades awarded the current system “will affect entry to higher education and will undoubtedly affect life chances”.

The letter said the “last-ditch” decision to allow mock exam grades as a substitute was “a fig-leaf”, adding that it was “neither fair nor is it a concession”.

Mock grades, they argued, mostly tend to be lower than final outcomes each summer.

“Mock results can never provide a fair and consistent substitute,” the letter said. “This last-minute decision does more to deflect criticism, than helping children. It is unrealistic to imagine that every young person will have the opportunity to sit more exams in the autumn – for some this will be an impossible luxury.”

Furthermore, they said, Scotland’s decision to revert to Centre Assessed Grades presented “a very real problem”.

“The disparity between the grades now awarded in Scotland and here in England will disadvantage English pupils when it comes to the competition for places in higher education,” the heads pointed out.

“This fact, combined with the apparent harshness of the statistical model that has been used, will now create a clamour for English boards to follow suit and revert to Centre Assessed Grades en masse here too. It is hard to see how anything less can now be fair.”

Handling of public examination results, they opined, was “yet another failure of those in authority to prioritise the interests of the young people they are meant to serve”.

The education secretary had defended the grading process, and said he would not follow Scotland's lead in cancelling the results in favour of teachers' assessments.

"The majority of young people will have received a calculated grade today that enables them to progress to the destination they deserve," said Williamson, who had hastily introduced an appeals process on Wednesday.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the grading system had failed. "Something has obviously gone horribly wrong with this year's exam results," he remarked.

More For You

Norman Tebbit

Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Former minister, Thatcher ally Norman Tebbit dies at 94

Norman Tebbit, a close ally of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and a former Conservative Party cabinet minister, has died at the age of 94. His son William confirmed the news on Tuesday.

"At 11:15 pm on 7th July, 2025, Lord Tebbit died peacefully at home aged 94," William Tebbit said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Southport

Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport.

Reuters

Public inquiry begins into Southport girls' murders

A PUBLIC inquiry begins on Tuesday into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year.

The inquiry will examine whether the attack could have been prevented and how future incidents might be avoided.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week

iStock

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London before 30°C heatwave

Key points

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
  • Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
  • Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
  • Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
  • UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south

Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.

The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.

Keep ReadingShow less
National Trust sets vision to heal
nature and engage more Asians

Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary

National Trust sets vision to heal nature and engage more Asians

THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.

Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less