NAHT(NI) welcome the Education Minister’s announcement that GCSE result will be based solely on the estimates provided by schools and colleges, although this announcement comes late in the day and inevitably raises about the planning and viability of this process from the outset.

NAHT(NI)’s President and Head of  Loughshore Education Resource Centre, Geri Cameron said

“NAHT(NI) remain deeply concerned by the process which A-levels and AS-levels were awarded, we reject the Minister’s remarks at last week’s education committee that the Centre Assessed Guidance’ lacks credibility’. Such comments are an insult to the profession.

We know there is no perfect method of awarding grades, however it is vital that the young people of Northern Ireland suffer no detriment as a result of the pandemic. Therefore we are calling for A-level and AS- level candidates to be awarded whichever grade is higher between the centre assessed grade or the CCEA grade.  In an evidence session with the education committee tomorrow and we will be calling for the Minister to be held to account.

Appeals to CCEA are already in their hundreds, by the time these are processed university places may be lost, it is vital the Minister acts immediately.

Furthermore there must be full transparency in respect of the algorithm used and a review of this process , at this time of great anxiety teachers and young people deserve answers.

Our young people have been through enough this year, professional teacher judgement must be trusted and our young people must be treated fairly.” 

Press and Media contacts:

Steven George
NAHT Head of Press and Media
01444 472886
07970 907730

Rose Tremlett 
Senior Press Officer 
07545 354363

Email : press.office@naht.org.uk