Labour leader Keir Starmer says the Tories’ exam grades fiasco sums up their “incompetent” handling of the pandemic.

Ministers were finally forced into another screeching U-turn today to quell fury over the debacle.

The Tories caved in to demands to use teachers’ predictions for A-level, AS-level and GCSE results, instead of the bungled computer formula.

There are fears thousands of pupils have already accepted spots on their second choice courses – and could miss out on their first preference due to the Government’s foul-up.

University chiefs have called for extra support to cope with an expected surge for places.

There was anger after the exam regulator’s algorithm downgraded 40% of teachers’ predictions for A-level results – with pupils in poorer areas the worst affected. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has tried to shift the blame on to regulator Ofqual.

What do you think of how grades have been decided and this change? Join the conversation in our comments below or if you're affected, email your story to webnews@mirror.co.uk.

Under-fire Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (
Image:
SKY NEWS/UNPIXS (EUROPE))

He refused to say whether he had confidence in its chief Sally Collier.

Four days ago, Mr Williamson defended the grading system, saying: “This is it. No U-turn, no change.”

The humiliating about turn was agreed in a call between him and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is on holiday in Scotland.

The humiliated Education Secretary issued a grovelling apology to pupils, saying: “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 provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve.”

Around 75% of people quizzed by YouGov have blasted the Tories’ handling of exam results.

Keir Starmer talks to students at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, after they received their A-Level results. (
Image:
PA)

Writing for the Mirror, Mr Starmer said the Tories are guilty of a string of failings during the pandemic. He said: “At a time of national emergency, this is no way to run a country.”

The U-turn will trigger a fresh race for places at universities where students missed out on their chosen course as they did not get the grades when results were out on Thursday.

The revised marks could mean universities – which often make more offers than they have places as they think not everyone will get the grades needed – have to take more students than planned. Caps on the numbers they can admit have been axed. But the Education Secretary failed to ­guarantee every pupil will get the place they were offered – even if they now have the required marks.

Mr Williamson told the Mirror: “We’re working with universities on capacity. We expect universities to honour their pledges.”

National Education Union general secretary Mary Bousted said: “Gavin Williamson has, finally, done the right thing. Students and teachers have endured days of unnecessary stress... For many students, this announcement will generate further uncertainty if they have been rejected from their first-choice course, and university, on the basis of the inaccurate and unjust Ofqual awarding process.”

Protesting students from Codsall Community High School march to the Education secretary Gavin Williiamson's Staffordshire constituency (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

Paul Whiteman, of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The big question remains as to why this decision has taken so long, as it may already be too late for some students who have missed out on their first choice of university and course.”

University and College Union chief Jo Grady said: “The political incompetence is unforgivable and there are still many questions to be answered.”

Universities UK chief executive Alistair Jarvis said: “The Government will need to step up and support universities through the challenges created by this late policy change.”

Ofqual chairman Roger Taylor apologised and said the fiasco had “caused real anguish”.

He said: “The pandemic has created circumstances no one could have ever imagined or wished for. We want to now take steps to remove as much stress and uncertainty for young people as possible – and to free up heads and teachers to work towards the important task of getting all schools open in two weeks.”

The U-turn came after days of pressure and protests including students outside Mr Williamson’s Staffordshire constituency office on Monday.

Hatice Dogus, 16, said it felt like "the weight of the world has been lifted" off her shoulders

Students  slammed the Government for giving them days of stress before U-turning on grades.

Thomas Jukes, 18, from Great Barr in Birmingham, wants to study medicine at the University of Birmingham and questioned why the “rubbish algorithm” was used in the first place.

He said: “I’m much more pleased now I have got my centre-assessed grades. It’s just dependent now on whether my places have been held.”

Hatice Dogus, 16, of Warrington, Cheshire, had been predicted grades of sevens, sixes and fives in her GCSEs and had been offered a place at sixth form based on those predictions.

She said: “Teachers have known me for five years and have seen all the hard work I have put in... whereas the computer would have judged me based on my mock exams and my postcode. I needed the grades I was predicted.”

Reagan McNamara, 16, of Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside is pleased the government has backed off the algorithm model

Reagan McNamara, 16, of Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside, said: “If they were going off the algorithm I would have failed all of my results, there is no doubt in my mind after seeing the mess the Government made of A-level results.

“I feel a lot better now because my place in college is safe.”

Nina Bunting-Mitcham, 22, who told schools minister Nick Gibb “you’ve ruined my life” after being given three D grades in the A-level results fiasco, is still unsure whether she will be offered the course she wanted.

But Nina, of Thorney, Cambs, now has teacher-assessed grades of ABB and said: “I’ve gone from almost wanting to just stop living any more to feeling absolutely ecstatic.”

Kiran Richards, 18, of Rotherham, South Yorks, was predicted ABB in his A-levels but was awarded BCC, not enough to study medicine at Leeds.

Nina Bunting-Mitcham is still unsure what the change will bring for her (
Image:
East Anglia News Service)

He will now be accepted and said: “It was a week of hell as I was left waiting, it really put me on edge.”

How grading system will work

Where teachers’ predictions for marks are better than
the algorithm, pupils will be switched to the higher grade.

If the computer system gives them a better mark than their schools believed they would achieve, the higher grade will
be retained by students.

This effectively gives pupils a “double lock” on A-levels, AS levels and GCSEs. No appeals are needed. Grades will be automatically hiked.

Georgia Hayes (left) celebrates after achieving her predicted grades of A*, A, A and getting into her first choice of Imperial College London to study Biochemistry (
Image:
PA)

This spares the Government another row with unions, with teachers able to concentrate on preparing schools to start the new academic year next month.

That aspect was specifically highlighted by Ofqual in its explanation for the switch.

Students unhappy with the marks predicted by teachers can appeal their “centre assessment grades”. The criteria are yet to be released.

Gavin Williamson said this could happen if pupils suspect teacher “bias or discrimination”.

Tories' biggest U-turn gaffes

The Tories have repeatedly U-turned during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here are some of their biggest gaffes.

■ Mass testing started, then stopped, then started again.

■ Ministers repeatedly said there was little benefit to face masks – then ordered them to be worn in shops, takeaways and on public transport.

■ Abortion rules were relaxed and women were allowed to take pills at home rather than in a clinic.

■ In June, the technology behind the already delayed NHS Covid-19 contact-tracing app was scrapped. Another pilot is now under way.

■ England footballer Marcus Rashford forced a switch over providing free school meal vouchers for poorer children over the summer holidays.

■ A day after defending the £400 annual fee for non-EU migrants to use the NHS, the PM said it would be scrapped for health and care workers.

■ The Tories were forced into allowing MPs to use remote voting in the Commons after lengthy queues of MPs formed in Parliament.