Essex pupils receive A-Level results

Pupils across Essex will receive their A-level results today (Thursday 13 August), following a period of highly unusual circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final months of the last school year saw unprecedented disruption for pupils, leading to many missing their final face-to-face lessons and having to adapt to home-schooling and remote learning, before this year’s A-Level exams were eventually cancelled.

To ensure students still received grades in time to progress to further study or employment, an alternative system of calculating results has been adopted by the Government.

However, these grades will not be used for performance tables for schools, colleges or local authorities and Essex County Council (ECC) will not be publishing its usual headline figures.

Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said:

“The past few months have meant an extraordinary period of disruption for A-Level students, never before experienced by a cohort of pupils.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to all those receiving their results during what I know has been an extremely challenging and stressful time.

“I’d also like to pass on my thanks to all our teaching and school colleagues for their ongoing hard work and dedication throughout this period.

“If anyone is disappointed with their grades, there is an appeals process which their school or college will be able to support them with.

“I’d like to wish everyone that collected their results today the very best of luck in the future and hope that they enable individuals to take their chosen next steps.”

Schools and colleges sent exam boards grades and a rank order of their pupils in each subject. Exam boards then standardised this information to ensure consistency of teacher judgements and comparability to previous year’s performance.

This means students, universities, colleges and employers can have confidence in this year’s results.

We would encourage all students (and parents) to speak to their school or college if their results aren’t what they were expecting.

ECC is supporting schools with guidance which will enable them to help pupils through the appeals process.

More information about grading this year – as well as information on resitting exams in the Autumn and making an appeal – can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/your-results-what-next.

Schools and colleges are preparing to open for all pupils in September. Measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 are in place, and next year’s exams are scheduled to take place, with some adjustments.

You can find out more about full opening plans on our website here: www.essex.gov.uk/changes-services/schools-learning.