Education – Page 7 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

26Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Williamson allowing someone else to take the blame for exam fiasco

Responding to the news that Ofqual head Sally Collier has resigned, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “It is incredibly disappointing that Gavin Williamson has refused to take responsibility for the combination of initial school return failure and the more recent exam fiasco and has instead allowed to let someone else take the blame. “He has lost the trust of students, parents and teachers who he failed to consult, leaving universities and colleges in chaos. “Meanwhile the Prime Minister is still yet to apologise for the stress and harm his government caused to students, parents and teachers. "Gavin Williamson is simply not the person the deliver a safe return to schools and must resign.”

19Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must publish DfE’s correspondence with Ofqual

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the Education Secretary has conceded it was Ofqual's decision to scrap the algorithm and move to teacher assessments, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “It appears that the decision to scrap the deeply unjust grading by postcode system came from Ofqual, not Gavin Williamson. Yet just days ago the Education Secretary claimed credit for this U-turn and attempted to throw the regulator under the bus. “The Government has serious questions to answer over what looks like a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. Enough of the smoke and mirrors, we urgently need clarity. All internal correspondence between DfE and Ofqual on this matter must to be published. "Ultimately, if Gavin Williamson has been dishonest as well as incompetent, the Prime Minister will have no choice…

18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call on PM to sack Gavin Williamson for “slow-motion car crash” on exams

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have called on Boris Johnson to sack Gavin Williamson, criticising attempts to pass the buck onto Ofqual for the exams grading fiasco. In a letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has called on the Prime Minister to personally apologise to students and warned that the Government’s failure to take responsibility risks further eroding public trust in the exams system. She accuses the Education Secretary of presiding over a “slow-motion car crash,” listing a number of catastrophic errors including failing to issue guidance for universities and ignoring warnings that a calculated grades system risked bias against disadvantaged groups. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The Government’s botched handling of this crisis has caused untold distress and anguish to students, with many at risk…

18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Gavin Williamson gets a U for exam failure and must go, say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Borough news, Parliamentary news

The Oldham Liberal Democrats have backed calls from students and teaching unions that the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson must go for failing thousands of A-level students across the country, many thousands in Oldham alone, over the examinations’ farrago. Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “The Secretary of State Gavin Williamson gets a U unclassified grade from us for his complete inability to perform in his job role, and by letting our young people down so badly. Thanks to his inept indecision, the grades of students were judged by an impersonal computer algorithm rather than assessed by the teachers that they know and trust. “Under intense pressure from students, parents, teaching professionals, politicians from all parties, and the media, common-sense has finally prevailed and this Conservative Government…

17Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Algorithm used for A-Levels and GCSEs should be scrapped

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal A-level and GCSE grades using mock exam results, just hours after publishing it, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Young people are being let down, and the confusion and uncertainty emanating from the Government is only making the situation worse. Things are getting ridiculous. "There has been mistake after mistake after mistake with Gavin Williamson over the last few of months. "The algorithm used for A-Level grades has clearly not worked and therefore should be scrapped with teacher grades used instead. The latest news that Ofqual has published guidelines, only to retract them hours later, is further proof that we need to go back to relying on centre assessed grades. With GCSE results looming,…

14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call on Williamson to resign in the face of grades chaos

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran has described Gavin Williamson as "out of his depth" and said that he must go in the wake of yesterday's "shambolic" grade outcomes. Moran's push for Williamson to resign follows criticism of the Secretary of State's errors through the COVID-19 crisis, from the failure to ensure disadvantaged pupils had access to remote learning devices to botched efforts to open schools more widely before the pandemic was under control. The Party are calling for all pupils to have a right to appeal their grade awards with no charge, and the chance to sit the examinations at the earliest possible date at no cost. They are further demanding that the Government urge universities to be lenient in admissions requirements. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The shambolic handling of…

13Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Appeals process critical to ensure grade awards do not “derail” students’ futures

Parliamentary news

Responding to news that in England 36% of A-level entries have been awarded a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: "Congratulations to every A-level student who is receiving their grade awards today. This cohort have shown real resilience during this very difficult time and should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. "However, too many young people are rightly worried that their futures are being derailed by the Government’s botched grading system. This day will understandably have brought anxiety and disappointment for some. "Pupils must have the chance to appeal their grades directly and to present evidence that reflects their performance and progress at no cost. Ministers must also provide clear guidance on how re-sits will work…

12Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Using mock exams won’t resolve grade award crisis

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Government's announcement of a so-called "triple lock" on this year's grade awards, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Young people are rightly worried that their futures are being derailed by a botched grading system. Ministers have long been warned to take extra steps to make sure pupils are not unfairly penalised, but using mock examination results won't resolve this. "Given that there is no consistent approach to mock examinations across schools, this could be more of a barrier than a benefit for many pupils. Had Ministers consulted teachers they would have known this. Pupils deserve better. "Pupils must have the chance to appeal their grades directly at no cost, and to present evidence that reflects their performance and progress to date. Ministers must also be crystal…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt should encourage universities to “exercise leniency” for 2020 admissions

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to issue guidance encouraging universities to "exercise leniency" in admitting students with lower-than-predicted grades, in the wake of concerns about how grades will be awarded this year. Describing plans to prevent students appealing their grades as "completely unacceptable", Layla Moran, the party's Education spokesperson, has written to the Education Secretary calling for him to ensure: Students will have the chance to appeal their grades for free, as well as providing free advice on the appeals process;Guidance is issued about how students can safely re-take assessments in the Autumn;Guidance is issued to universities encouraging them to exercise leniency when it comes to admitting students who are awarded lower grades than predicted, especially if they come from a disadvantaged background. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must provide practical and financial support ahead of schools opening fully

Parliamentary news

Responding to comments from the Prime Minister that reopening schools fully is a "national priority", Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Months of remote learning has seen too many pupils left behind. It is absolutely right to prioritise getting children back to school. "To do so, school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils need to have real confidence that schools will be COVID-safe come September. A comprehensive test, trace and isolate system is critical to reopening classrooms as safely as possible. Ministers need to work with local authorities to improve the NHS Test and Trace service, which is still failing to reach enough close contacts. "The Government must also use these last vital weeks to ensure school leaders have the practical and financial support they need ahead of opening fully.…

Tag: Education