Students demand review as local MPs look to debunk claims
Unsurprisingly there has been no sympathy whatsoever for A Level students from our local MPs. In fact both Jacob Young’s and Simon Clarke’s only interaction with the results fiasco that I can see is to the contrary and has been to retweet a post from Michael Gove that attempts to debunk claims.
No concern expressed, just looking at how to justify the unjustifiable and ignore the disparities felt in our constituency compared to the more affluent areas. Who do these populist represent? Isn’t it times like these that you would want YOUR MPs to express publicly their comforting words and to say they care and are taking this your plight up with government?
The government have had months to get this right. There was clearly going to be controversy due to students for the first time ever not being able to sit their exams because of the Coronavirus pandemic leaving assessors to awarded grades based on predicted results and using an algorithm. What did the Cabinet member do during these months? Smile?
Allegedly as many as 40% of students have been marked down by assessors from the teachers predictions. To add to the concern is that it appears results at state schools in deprived areas like ours have been downgraded more than private schools and more affluent areas. Even the equalities board are looking into this. In July I recall reading how a private school’s documents reported “to facilitate an application to a more selective university/course”.
There clearly needs to be a review by the government and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has also been too quiet on this issue. They should also be voicing their concerns and demanding a review. Aren’t they the voice of the people? I would advise parents and students impacted to write to their MPs and the Leader of the Council to demand they get behind this area’s students and demand their government sort this unnecessary mess out.
It has made it a difficult time for all students including those celebrating their success because they are also affected by seeing their friends, who they have studied with over the past couple of years, not reaching the grades to reach their offer requirements. It has muted celebrations for many and left so many completely dejected and despondent.
My sincere congratulations to all those who have been successful and to those who are not, my heartfelt sympathy. I want the government to step up and reassess this unfortunate situation which in my view, was unfair from the start and destiny completely taken out of the students hands.to all those who have been successful and to those who are not, my heartfelt sympathy. I want the government to step up and reassess this unfortunate situation which in my view, was unfair from the start and destiny completely taken out of the students hands.
Diary of a Redcar Councillor 
It is heartbreaking to think about how this has accepted so many young, and aspirational people. While I feel that these people like Michael Gove don’t really represent anyone, but the tories basically spark fear into voters, to make sure they don’t vote for someone else 😦
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