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Students take part in a march from Marble Arch to the Department of Education in Westminster, London, calling for the resignation of Education Secretary Gavin Williamson over the government's handling of exam results after A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak in August 2020
THE “CHAOS and incompetence” that has epitomised the Tories’ handling of the Covid-19 crisis in education should not be allowed to undermine young people’s life chances, Sir Keir Starmer said today.
As students prepare to receive A-level and GCSE grades this week, the Labour leader set out three tests that, he said, ministers must meet by August 31, the cut-off date set by many universities for students to fulfil entry terms.
A second year of results chaos is “not an option,” Sir Keir insisted, recalling last summer’s fiasco, in which the use of computer-generated grades led thousands of students from poorer areas being penalised, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s misplaced confidence that he would deliver “a full exam series” this year.
Almost half of universities face deficits, merger mania is taking hold, and massive fee hikes that will lock out working-class students are on the horizon, write RUBEN BRETT, PAUL WHITEHOUSE and DAN GRACE
