Inequalities in UK education system only exacerbated by covid-19

13th August, A-Level results day. This year however, schools and students faced greater uncertainty than normal as they waited to receive their ‘exam’ results.

Due to coronavirus, exams were cancelled for the first time in history. So, instead of grades being achieved by students’ own performance in exams, teachers were asked to calculate their students’ grades based on their previous academic performance.

 On 12th August (the day before results came out) the government made a last-minute announcement that mock results may be accepted in certain situations if the student was unhappy with their grade. Additionally, the government unclearly announced that a statistical model would be used evaluate the grades that the teachers submitted to ensure that teachers were not rewarding grades. The statistical model takes into account the schools’ previous results and attainment levels. Consequently, high achieving students from low achieving schools were unfairly marked down. An injustice not based on personal limitations but environmental ones.

This statistical model was only modified and clarified by the government less than 24 hours before results came out. As a result, pupils and teachers alike have left frustrated with the realisation that this model disadvantages students from deprived areas who go to schools with typically lower attainment levels.

Although this will affect school students all over the country, students in Bristol have already come forward to speak out against the unfairness of this method of moderating grades. Orla McMahon from Southville school in Bristol, writing for Bright Green, said that the statistical model is ‘fine and sensible in principle, but in practise, it’s so very unfair’. Students from South Bristol school could be some of many losing out on their deserved grades because they are from a disadvantaged area.

Whilst this unfair situation may have been directly caused by coronavirus, it really is a result of the years of extreme inequalities in the UK schooling system which have led to already disadvantaged schools and pupils being disadvantaged more. Yet again we see the social effects of coronavirus hitting hardest the already most disadvantaged members of our society.

Written by Niamh Williams