Conservative Black Country MPs call for fairness for A-level students

Pressure is continuing to build on the Government over A-levels after some students had their results downgraded.

Tory MPs in the region said they would do everything they can to help aggrieved constituents appeal results which they felt were unfair.

But they stopped short of criticising the Government, insisting these are unprecedented times.

Number 10 and the Department of Education are facing increasing calls to scrap an Ofqual algorithm which has been used to override results given by teachers.

A U-turn over the controversial system appeared imminent today after Tory MPs across the country heaped pressure on Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to change course.

An announcement on A-level and GCSE results was widely expected on Monday afternoon from South Staffordshire MP Mr Williamson and Ofqual.

Jane Stevenson, MP for Wolverhampton North East, said: "Obviously we want to see young people treated fairly. I will be working with constituents who feel they have been downgraded unfairly, helping them to appeal when we know what the process is.

"It is an unprecedented situation. We all want to see young people treated fairly."

However, Ms Stevenson suggested teachers should not have the final say over grades.

She said: "Some teachers are more generous than others as they want to encourage young people and some want to give them a lower grade to give them a bit of a shock and make them work harder."

Marco Longhi, MP for Dudley North, who, like Ms Stevenson, was elected to one of the so-called Red Wall seats formerly held by Labour in December, said: "The pandemic has brought challenges for the Government and obviously they are trying to sort it out in conjunction with Ofqual.

"At the moment if students have not achieved what they felt they should have been achieved there is still the triple lock in place."

He added: "It's a moving feast. I don't particularly want to jump in and pass judgement on something that is still being analysed.

"What we shouldn't forget is every single year there are students who are disappointed with their results and they follow the appeal process.

"These are unprecedented times and everybody is absolutely trying their best. Are things going to go wrong? Yes. It's about understanding what needs to be done."

Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East and Shadow City Minister, said: "This is a terrible failure of young people. It is anti-opportunity. It is the absolute opposite of levelling up."