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The Northern Ireland\u2019s Education Minister has ruled out using teacher grade predictions to replace disputed A-level results.<\/p>\nThe Northern Ireland\u2019s Education Minister has ruled out using teacher grade predictions to replace disputed A-level results.<\/p>\n
Peter Weir defended the mathematical model used to standardize the results as the SDLP made a bid to recall the Stormont Assembly to address the controversy.<\/p>\n
More than a third of A-level grades issued on Thursday were lower than teacher estimates.<\/p>\n
Giving evidence to his Stormont scrutiny committee, Mr Weir said solely using teacher estimates to allocate A or AS-level grades would lack any level of credibility.<\/p>\n
In 37% of cases teachers were overoptimistic in their prediction, while in around 5% of entries they underestimated the result.<\/p>\n
Overall, the percentage of top grades allocated in 2020 was up on previous years.<\/p>\n
However, many students have been left shocked and disappointed after receiving grades that were significantly lower than both their performance in previous exams and their teachers\u2019 prediction.<\/p>\n
The SDLP is seeking the support of other MLAs to secure the 30 signatures required to force the recall of the Assembly from summer recess.<\/p>\n
The education committee did sit during recess to question Mr Weir on Friday.<\/p>\n
During the lengthy hearing, chairman Chris Lyttle urged the minister to intervene and ensure pupils were awarded A-level grades based on either their AS-level attainment or the estimated grade assessed by their teacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are unprecedented times,\u201d said the Alliance MLA.<\/p>\n
Mr Lyttle said he was aware of a school that had seen its A*-C attainment rate fall from 90% last year to 60% under the calculation model.<\/p>\n
He said the minister was \u201cincreasingly isolated\u201d in refusing to use the teacher assessments to allocate the grades.<\/p>\n
Mr Weir responded by insisting that if teacher predictions were used without standardization, the results would not have \u201cany level of credibility\u201d because the results would be so much higher than those achieved in previous years.<\/p>\n
He said that approach would also be unfair on pupils, as some teachers would have been \u201cgenerous\u201d in estimating grades while others had been \u201ctough\u201d on their students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere would be no equality whatsoever,\u201d said Mr Weir.<\/p>\n
The minister acknowledged that the system for calculating A-level results \u201cdid not work for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said there was no way of creating a perfect replacement for sitting the exams which were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were looking to create what was a least-worst solution,\u201d said the minister.<\/p>\n
Mr Weir highlighted that a fast-tracked appeals process has been established for those students who believe they have been treated unfairly.<\/p>\n
The standardization model was developed by Northern Ireland exam body the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).<\/p>\n
CCEA asked teachers to give a predicted grade for their pupils and then rank them in order within their class.<\/p>\n
The exams body then used other data to standardize the results.<\/p>\n
For A-levels, the data included pupils\u2019 AS-level results, making adjustments for those who had applied to take resits.<\/p>\n
For AS results, the pupils\u2019 GCSE results were also used, as was the performance by their school over the previous three years.<\/p>\n
Daniel McCrossan, whose SDLP has urged the Assembly recall, branded the situation a \u201cdebacle\u201d.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern about the mental health impact on children, revealing that a GP had contacted him to alert him that three pupils who had missed out on university places had presented with suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis model failed, it failed our children and it failed our young people,\u201d he told the minister.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAs the result of this pandemic, they should not pay the price.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr McCrossan demanded more transparency on the algorithm used to calculate the grades.<\/p>\n
In regard to the algorithm, Mr McCrossan said there was a need to \u201cmark the minister\u2019s homework\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Weir said he would make information on the formula public, though he stressed some of it would be technical data.<\/p>\n
He rejected calls for an independent review of CCEA\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think CCEA processes were sound,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t intend at this stage to have an independent review.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chief executive of CCEA Justin Edwards also faced questions at the committee.<\/p>\n
He defended the model used, insisting a range of academics and other experts were involved in its development.<\/p>\n
Mr Edwards stressed the limited time his organisation had to deliver on the minister\u2019s key objectives \u2013 to produce a set of results for the 2020 cohort and to ensure standards were in line with previous years.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have worked inordinate hours in my organisation to deliver a solution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Edwards added: \u201cI\u2019ve always cited that the best solution was examinations and it was not available to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, if it was not available to us, then this alternative approach was the next best operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He claimed no better solution had been presented.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there was a viable alternative to this situation, then let it be brought forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n