CITY bosses have hailed a government U-turn over a controversial system for awarding A-Level and GCSE results.

A-levels and GCSEs in England will be awarded based on grades estimated by teachers, rather than by an algorithm, it has been announced.

Civic chiefs described the government U-turn as "a victory for every young person who made their voice heard".

The news comes after an uproar as figure revealed that nationally about 40% of A-level results were downgraded by exams regulator Ofqual, which used a formula based on schools' prior grades.

Daily Echo:

On Thursday councillors in Southampton called on the government to make a U-turn.

As reported, Cllr Satvir Kaur, said the new marking system "failed a generation".

Following yesterday's announcement she said: "Well done to every young person, parent and teacher who made their voice heard, fought this incompetent Government and won. Congratulations to those that can now celebrate the results they deserve. It’s clear this should never have happened or taken this long to u-turn; the change still does not apply to Southampton students taking BTECs and many have already missed out on their university places they would have been entitled to had Boris Johnson not let them down.”

Cllr Darren Paffey, cabinet member for children and learning, added: "Education is a door that opens up opportunities to young people, not one that’s slammed in their faces, as Ofqual’s algorithm did for too many students. So I welcome this u-turn. The government was wrong to drag its heels for so long, but this is a victory for every young person who made their voice heard over this injustice, as well as families, teachers, trade unions and political colleagues who spoke up too."

Caroline Nokes MP for Romsey and Southampton North previously said students needed certainty over their grades and the chance to move on with their futures.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith added: "These are the most unusual times. Government has paid people to stay at home. They are making people wear masks. Exceptional times call for exceptional measures. Exceptional in this instance would be to award the kids their teacher assessed grades and move on. I am pleased the Government has decided to do so."

Yesterday Education Secretary Gavin Williamson apologised to students and parents.

He said: "We worked with Ofqual to construct the fairest possible model, but it is clear that the process of allocating grades has resulted in more significant inconsistencies than can be resolved through an appeals process. We now believe it is better to offer young people and parents certainty by moving to teacher assessed grades for both A and AS level and GCSE results. I am sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents but hope this announcement will now provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve.”