Students in England, Northern Ireland and Wales received their GCSE qualification results today, after education ministers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales this week confirmed that students would be awarded whichever was the higher of their moderated grade or centre assessed grade (CAG). Roger Taylor, Chair of Ofqual, released a statement on Monday confirming the changes to awarding plans.

Students in England have also received revised A level grades to meet centre assessed grades if their result had been downgraded by Ofqual's moderation process.

Northern Ireland's Minister for Education, Peter Weir, confirmed that on Friday that A level students would receive whichever was higher, their centre assessed grade or CCEA's moderated grade.

After suggesting AS grades would be used in Wales, Minister for Education Kirsty Williams announced that in line with England and Northern Ireland, centre assessed grades would be awarded if higher than the corresponding moderated grade. WJEC will issue revised grades as soon as possible.

Unprecedented changes to education and exams policy in the last three weeks across all UK nations have caused distress and uncertainty for students, parents, teachers and schools, and added complexity at a late stage for further education providers and higher education institutions accepting entrants in September 2020. The RSB congratulates all students on their achievements over the last two years, and wishes the best for their progression into the next phase of study.

The Society submitted responses to Ofqual's consultations on 2020 and 2021 exams, submitted letters and provided  written evidence to each nations' education or children's committees, and in informal discussions highlighted potential issues with the processes proposed for awarding grades this year.

Lauren McLeod, head of education policy at the RSB, commented: “Students moving on to further, higher education and employment with qualifications this year should be confident that education institutions and employers will treat grades and qualifications as they would in any other year.

"Over the next few months we will continue to work with UK governments, regulators and exam boards to further develop policy that will help mitigate the effects of significant disruption to student education.

"We are also encouraging those departments and organisations to undertake further analysis of awarded grades and progression regarding disability, gender, race and socio-economic status, and to consider what mechanisms and adjustments can be put in place over the next three to five years.”

Further government, regulator or exam board announcements on adjustments to decisions around grades, appeals and return to schools across the UK will be collated on RSB’s education during COVID-19 webpages.