The long wait for grades is finally over

A-Level results day is always a day of excitement, high emotions and mixed feelings with two years of hard work coming to its conclusion.

But this year was very different, as students and teachers faced an unprecedented challenge in the face of coronavirus, with exams cancelled and schools and colleges closed.

Sue Sanderson, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member for schools and learning, said: “Today is a day for celebration and although it will also be filled with mixed emotions for many I want to take this opportunity to congratulate our young people for staying positive during such a challenging time.

"I also want to say thank you to all the headteachers, teachers, parents and carers for all their support to our young people over the last few months.

"We must remember today is about people, it is about the future of our young people and I am immensely proud of everyone’s efforts. Whatever your results it is now time for you to focus on the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.

"Finally I want to take this opportunity to reassure everyone about the significant amount of work going on behind the scenes to help get our education system back on track. Our plans are progressing really well to reopen our schools and childminding facilities in September and again I want to say a huge thanks to everyone who is working so hard to make this happen.”

University of Cumbria’s Admissions Manager Sharon Blaylock has been involved in admissions at the institution for over 20 years.

She said: “Our admissions team is here and ready to talk, either right now or throughout clearing. We are here to help anyone who may be asking themselves if university is right for them and if it is right at this particular time.

“They’ll want to know what we have to offer, what measures we’re putting in place for the new year, and what support we can offer in the months and years ahead.

“Whilst the pandemic has many reconsidering their future plans and opportunities, we are still here ready to support our students and to let them know that if they stay focused and stick with us, they can go far.

“By having those conversations with us, we can provide support at every step along the way and we will look forward to welcoming you in September.”

The DfE has cancelled performance tables for this year and there will be no headline results published for schools.

Judith Schafer, chairwoman of CASH and executive headteacher of Solway School and Beaconhill School said: "Cumbrian schools are, this year as always, proud to serve our young people, in what has been one of the most challenging years for everyone in society.

"This results day, like any other, will see both elation and disappointment for our students. Results days are often emotional, and this year schools have had to manage this alongside the public health challenges involved in students attending schools to collect their grades, as well as the issues around the cancellation of exams and the decision to award calculated grades.

"The grades the students are receiving are the result of the national standardisation of centre assessed grades. Headteachers and their staff have worked with the government and Ofqual and carefully followed the guidance issued in order to make sure that our Cumbrian students are awarded the exam results they deserve and have worked hard for.

"The process involved schools providing the exam boards with the rank order list of students for each subject. Then the exam boards awarded grades to students using, in addition to the grades provided by schools, data from the cohort of students from previous years as well as national standardisation processes to inform their decisions.

"This process has meant that individual schools have had limited influence over the grades finally awarded to students."