Boris Johnson blames 'mutant algorithm' for exams fiasco after previously defending 'robust' system

The Prime Minister said pupils had "lost too much time" from their learning as a result of the pandemic
Imogen Braddick26 August 2020

Boris Johnson has blamed a "mutant algorithm" for the exam results fiasco, after previously insisting the grading system was "robust".

Both the Prime Minister and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had previously defended the exams system, which saw almost 40 per cent of A-level grades reduced from teachers’ predictions.

Following criticism from students, headteachers and a backlash by Tory MPs, the Government announced A-level and GCSE grades would be based on teachers’ assessments rather than the controversial algorithm devised by regulator Ofqual.

The announcement on August 17, just days before GCSE results were due to come out, followed an earlier vow from Mr Williamson that there would be "no U-turn, no change".

During a visit to a school in the East Midlands, Mr Johnson told pupils: "I’m afraid your grades were almost derailed by a mutant algorithm.

"I know how stressful that must have been for pupils up and down the country.

"I’m very, very glad that it has finally been sorted out."

Boris Johnson spoke to pupils at Castle Rock School in Coalville
AP

Mr Johnson thanked pupils at Castle Rock School in Coalville for their efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

"We have the number of deaths way down, we have the number of hospital admissions way, way down and it’s thanks to you and your sacrifice that we have protected the NHS and saved literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives," he said.

"No previous generation of pupils has ever done anything like this."

He told pupils: "Your chances of suffering from that disease are very, very low. The greatest risk you face now is of continuing to be out of school."

The Prime Minister said pupils had "lost too much time" from their learning as a result of the pandemic and encouraged all youngsters to return to their classrooms when schools reopen for the autumn term.

The Prime Minister encouraged students to return to classrooms in the autumn term
PA

"School is safe, it is exciting, it is the place to learn, it is the place where people are going to be absorbing in the next few days and weeks, young people are going to be absorbing things they will never forget," he said.

"This is an absolutely invaluable time for them – they must get back into school.

"They have lost too much time out of school and I hope they will (return), and I’m sure they will."

But Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, accused the Prime Minister of trying to "shrug away" the results chaos by blaming a "mutant algorithm".

He said: "It is brazen of the Prime Minister to idly shrug away a disaster that his own Government created.

Boris Johnson suggested the decision on face coverings was influenced by the experience of pupils in Scotland (AP)
Jack Hill/Pool/AP

"Parents, students, teachers and heads will be horrified to see the leader of this country treat his own exams fiasco like some minor passing fad.

"The public will not easily forget the emotional rollercoaster of this year’s results season. It is certain to put a long-lasting dent in the Government’s reputation on education.

"Sally Collier fell on her sword yesterday, but the disaster of this year’s exams model has its origins in a decade of Conservative education policy.

"Kenneth Baker and Justine Greening both agree the current system is not fit for purpose, and the NEU goes further. It needs ripping up, and for students entering exams next summer we need quick and decisive action."

It comes after a Government decision to make face coverings in secondary schools mandatory in corridors and communal areas in some parts of the country.

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Mr Johnson suggested the decision was influenced by the experience of pupils in Scotland, who have already begun returning to classrooms.

"On the issue of face coverings, what you’ve got is the WHO (World Health Organisation) saying face coverings should be used by over-12s," the Prime Minister said during his visit.

"What we’re saying is if you’re in a school where there is a ‘hot spot’ then it probably does make sense in confined areas outside the classroom to use a face coverings in the corridor and elsewhere."

He added: "As they discovered in Scotland, where they’ve had the kids in for at least a couple of weeks now, what they found was that it was raining outside, people were coming in and they were congregating in the corridors and the move to face coverings they thought was sensible.

"What we are doing, following what the WHO have said, is we are saying, if you are in a hot spot area where there is a higher risk of transmission then face coverings in those types of areas outside the classroom.

"But not in the classrooms because that is clearly nonsensical – you can’t teach with face coverings, you can’t expect people to learn with face coverings."