07Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Over 90,000 children could miss out on top grades under government’s exam plans for 2022

Over 90,000 children could miss out on top grades under government’s exam plans for 2022

Parliamentary news
90,644 children could lose out on the top grades for GCSEs and A Levels this year due to Government plans on exam grading, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. It comes as Ofqual is set to confirm arrangements today (Monday 7 February) for this summer’s GCSEs and A levels, along with details on what mitigations will be in place. The Chief Regulator of Ofqual, Dr Jo Saxton, plans to set the grading boundaries in a way that “reflects a mid-point between 2021 and pre-pandemic grading”. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats suggests this would mean 24,524 GCSE pupils missing out on grade 7,8 or 9, and 66,120 A-level students missing out on As or A*s compared to the grading system used last year. The Lib Dems have called the…
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13Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Govt must guarantee sixth form places for GCSE students who get the grades

Govt must guarantee sixth form places for GCSE students who get the grades

Borough news, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to provide emergency funding to schools and colleges to provide extra sixth form places for applicants who get the GCSE grades to meet their existing admissions criteria. With students achieving record GCSE results today, there are fears that some sixth forms will be forced to use “oversubscription criteria” to turn away applicants from other schools, even though they have met the usual entry criteria. Dr Lee Elliot Major, Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter, has described sixth form admissions as “the Wild West of the education system” and warned about “the prospects of poorer pupils who will not necessarily be backed up by sharp-elbowed parents.” Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “No one who has worked so…
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10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Williamson must follow Welsh Government and cancel 2021 exams

Williamson must follow Welsh Government and cancel 2021 exams

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that Liberal Democrat Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams has announced that they are cancelling GCSE, AS and A-level exams in 2021, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “The ongoing disruption of coronavirus on education means it is now impossible to guarantee a level playing field for students in exams. Many teachers are also saying it is now impossible to teach the content needed for next summer's exams. “The Liberal Democrats have been clear that rather leaving pupils under a cloud of uncertainty and making yet more last minute decisions, the Government must cancel GCSE and A-level exams in summer 2021 and make necessary adjustments to assessing BTECs. “In cancelling next year's exams, Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams is giving schools the certainty they need, whilst…
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02Sep 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Labour is still letting down our school leavers

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has praised the efforts of our Borough’s young people in achieving their GCSE’s this year, but he has also expressed his disappointment that once more they continue to be let down, and let down by the failings of the Labour Council, which is the Local Education Authority (LEA). Councillor Sykes said:  “Congratulations to those students who have passed their GCSEs this year, and achieved or exceeded their academic goals.  This achievement is down to your hard work and dedication.  Let us hope that you go on to greater success in higher education and the world of work.  But I am disappointed that the local results show that Oldham Council continues to let…
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