The student faces behind the policy

The following extract is taken from an email from an EOA member. The EOA Board of Trustees, the Exam Office Blog and comments in the membership forums all capture a sense of concern about the fallout from these summer exams and the consequences of decisions on grade boundaries and retakes.

“90 of our 200 students did not achieve their forecast grades - unheard of in our centre.

It is estimated that 30 of our students missed a C grade because of the grade boundary change.

Whilst contacting our students to invite them to re-sit - a heartbreaking picture emerged of bewildered students missing out on FE courses and opportunities to progress their education in the way they had envisaged.

There are real and tragic consequences when we use education for political leverage - Mr Gove must be made to appreciate that young lives have been damaged this Summer and act to redress the injustice.”