Sir Keir Starmer tells government ‘this is no way to run a country’ amid mass confusion in the scramble for university places following A-level U-turn – but ‘loyal’ Gavin Williamson is expected to STAY
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has slammed government incompetence following the A-level U-turn yesterday – but Gavin Williamson is still expected to stay on.
After coming under vast pressure, Mr Williamson decided to allow GCSE and A-level results in England to be based on teachers’ predicted grades.
But tens of thousands of pupils still face an uncertain future as universities try and find them places on courses that could already be at capacity.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wrote in the Daily Mirror the Conservatives’ handling of the situation ‘sums up their handling of this pandemic – incompetent’.
‘At a time of national emergency, this is no way to run a country,’ he added.
‘The Tories’ incompetence is holding Britain back from recovery.’
Despite the chaos of the past five days, dithering Williamson is expected to keep his job, despite mounting calls for him to resign.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wrote in the Daily Mirror the Conservatives’ handling of the situation ‘sums up their handling of this pandemic – incompetent’
Shadow education secretary Kate Green has written to Mr Williamson with 15 questions, including asking when students will receive their new grades and whether there will still be a free appeals process.
She welcomed the Government having ‘finally reversed its position’ after mounting calls from students, teachers and Conservative MPs.
‘However, the confusion of the past few weeks, and delay in making these important decisions, mean there are now important outstanding issues on which students, parents and institutions need urgent clarity,’ she added.
Whether students who have accepted an offer based on their moderated grades can switch institutions and how universities will be supported by the move to scrap the temporary limit on places were among her queries.
She also called for Mr Williamson to confirm no universities will be ‘allowed to fail financially’ as a result of the changes and for the Cabinet minister to set out the position for BTEC students’ grades.
In a statement, the Labour MP added: ‘This was a welcome and necessary change in policy, but we should never have been in this position as the government has had months to get this right.
‘The delay and chaos accompanying means that students, families, and education providers have no answers to essential questions.’
Mr Williamson on Monday apologised for ‘the distress’ caused to students and their parents and said it became clear over the weekend that action was needed after Ofqual released additional data about its algorithm.
There were widespread concerns the move to base results partly on schools’ past performances would have a greater negative impact on bright pupils and disadvantaged schools.