Gavin Williamson questioned by MPs on GCSE and A level grades
The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson faced scrutiny this week over the awarding of exam grades this summer, as he went before the Education Select Committee on Wednesday. Much of the questioning focused on the relationship between Ofqual and the Department for Education, and whether or not Ofqual had acted truly independently of the Department.
Throughout Gavin Williamson maintained that everyone involved in decisions around exam grades acted to prevent unfairness. He pointed towards the fact that all devolved governments, whatever party they were led by, had arrived at a similar decision to use an algorithm before later reverting to centre assessment grades. He rejected claims that the decision to use algorithms was a result of too much emphasis on standardisation to prevent grade inflation.
When asked why he rejected the recommendations from Ofqual, which preferenced holding exams either in the summer or September, the Secretary of State argued that it wasn’t viable to hold exams in the summer in light of the pandemic. He added that he feared a later exam series would be unfair on those from disadvantaged backgrounds, due to the extended period of absence from regular schooling caused by the lockdown.
While Gavin Williamson defended the actions of both Ofqual and DfE, especially in light of the extraordinary circumstances they were operating in, he did recognise that there had been operational problems, and he noted that the Department may have to look into different ways to operate.
Despite a lengthy sitting of the Education Select Committee, there was little revealed on the decision making process behind the awarding of exam grades. Little information was given as to why both the chief regulator at Ofqual and the permanent secretary at the DfE stood down.
Gavin Williamson argued that the scandal around grades this year had reinforced his view that students sitting exams was the fairest way to award grades, and that DfE is now working to ensure continuity in education and viable remote learning to prevent disadvantaged students from falling behind. However, further information on exams in 2021 has yet to be released.
Clarity on this is now urgently needed. This week Schools North East wrote to Gavin Williamson expressing the challenges and concerns schools currently have. The lack of a decision around exams, whether this be A levels, GCSEs, or SATs, is causing increasing frustration. We will continue to lobby the government to reach a decision on this, that takes into account the likelihood of local lockdowns as well as avoiding high stakes accountability system that does not appreciate the difficulties that the education sector has faced.