A number of South East MPs have called on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to use teacher assessments to grade this year’s GCSE and A-level students amid “the most exceptional of years”.

Conservative Sally-Ann Hart¸ who represents Hastings and Rye, said she was concerned the same level of “frustration and confusion” felt by A-level students last week will also emerge when GCSE results come out later this week.

Reuters

She said: “That is why I am today asking the Secretary of State for Education to use Teacher Assessments for the 2020 cohort of students who have been studying A-levels and GCSEs.

“We have lived through an extraordinary time since February this year, and as in all areas we as a Government need to take extraordinary action to mitigate against the long-term effects of Covid-19.”

Meanwhile, Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch and South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay have also joined growing calls for teacher assessments to be used to grade students.

Mr Mackinlay said: “Surely better to put 2020 down as the most exceptional of years and go with teacher assessments.

"In any event, universities themselves must show flexibility and elasticity in their admissions procedures this year.”

Exam regulator Ofqual has faced criticism over the statistical model it used to decide the grades.