CIVIC chiefs are urging the government to have "a serious rethink" after A-level results sparked "anger and frustration".

A Southampton councillor said the new system used to award A-level grades this year has "failed" a generation.

It comes as this year's A-level exams were cancelled due to the pandemic and schools and colleges were asked to predict grades for their students.

The government previously said that to ensure fair grades, exam boards were putting all centre assessment grades through a process of standardisation.

But the new method has come under fire as reported figures revealed that nationally 36% of pupils were awarded a lower grade than their teacher assessments.

The government said students are able to appeal on the basis of their mock results and also have the chance of sitting autumn exams.

But Southampton City Council councillors Satvir Kaur and Darren Paffey are urging the government to have a rethink.

The city council said the proportion of top A-Level grades attained in Southampton has increased this year.

According to the authority yesterday’s provisional results show an overall improvement in grades attained when compared with 2019, with an increase in the average points score – which is based on all A-Level grades that students have achieved – from 29.3 to 31.8.

However, the council said that the approach applied by the Department for Education (DfE) "resulted in 90 fewer A*-A grades, 146 fewer A*-B grades, 170 fewer A*-C grades and 27 fewer A*-E grades when teacher assessments are compared to results day grades across Southampton Local Authority".

Cllr Kaur, cabinet member for culture in Southampton,  said: "As a Governor of Richard Taunton’s College and an aunty to a heartbroken niece who got her grades lowered like so many of her classmates, I share the anger and frustration of many parents, hardworking teachers and young people who have had their dreams crushed and futures set back because of the shambolic and incompetent Government handling of the results process. With 40% of students having their grades marked down, it’s clear the system has fundamentally failed this generation, affecting those from disadvantages backgrounds in Southampton far more. This Government needs to have a serious rethink.”

Cllr Darren Paffey, cabinet member for children and learning at the city council, added: "The government needs to urgently re-think.This was unacceptable in Scotland where they rightly backtracked. This government must do the same now."

He said this has been "a really difficult year" for students studying for their A-Levels and added: "Despite this, so many students in Southampton have worked hard to achieve their results and I’d like to say a huge congratulations to every student celebrating their success today. For those students who didn’t get the grades they expected, I want to reassure you that there is help and support available so please do speak to your school or college about your options. I would encourage all students to visit the Access Southampton website for support.”  

David Pover, headteacher at The Burgate Sixth Form in Fordingbridge , said "understandably, there will be a similar mix of emotions on results day as there is every year".

But he added: "What is important now is that the grades that this year’s cohort have received allows each and every student to look towards the future and fulfil their plans in order to limit the impact that the pandemic has had on their lives."

Neal Parker, headteacher at King Edward VI School in Southampton, added: "Whilst we are all desperately sad that this year group was not able to demonstrate their learning and knowledge by sitting the exams, nonetheless they deserve heartfelt congratulations on some outstanding results. "

Hampshire County Council is also supporting students through school's careers advisors and Hampshire Futures – the county council’s careers advice service for young people.

Cllr Roz Chadd, executive member for education and skills at the county council, said: "There is no doubt that post-16 students were dealt a blow with colleges closing as a result of lockdown; and to not be able to complete their courses in the usual way will have been very disappointing for them, I am sure. However, it is clear they demonstrated great resilience and have worked hard to keep going regardless. They should be commended for their efforts. I congratulate them, their tutors and the employers."

However, following a national backlash, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has called on the Government to review the moderation process in England “as a matter of urgency”.

Larissa Kennedy, president of the National Union of Students (NUS), said: “England must follow Scotland’s lead and scrap moderated grades, moving to give all students their teacher assessed grades.

“We must look at what this will mean for individual students without such action, many of whom will miss out on opportunities to attend the university of their choice because of this process.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson ruled out following the Scottish Government in reversing position.

He told Sky News: “When we’ve consulted widely, when Ofqual consulted widely (on) the whole system of awarding, this is the message that we got from everyone – this is the right approach to go forward.

“You’ve got to have a system that has checks and balances, that looks at the whole performance and making sure you maintain standards within the exam system, to ensure those results carry credibility.”

Speaking on A-level results day, he added that “the majority of young people will have received a calculated grade today that enables them to progress to the destination they deserve”.

The DfE has been approached for further comment.

Students who want to contact the county council for support can email careers.service@hants.gov.uk. On August 14, the county council will also be operating a phone line, between 9am and 5pm: 07784 264 699.

Southampton students can visit http://access-southampton.co.uk/.