In a surprising turn of events, Gavin Williamson – the actual education secretary – can’t remember what his results were when he sat his own A-Level exams.
The admission, made by the Tory MP on LBC on Tuesday, comes on the same day that many students opened their envelopes to find out what grades they secured in their A-Levels, during an academic year disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Quoting a statement made by Williamson, host Nick Ferrari asked: “How did you fare, 27 years ago today, as it were?”
“I remember walking up to those college doors, Nick, and going in to my college at Sixth Form and getting that envelope, opening up that envelope, seeing the grades on there and just feeling absolute delight,” replied Williamson, appearing to avoid the question entirely.
Ferrari then pressed the education secretary several times for an answer, at which point he said: “It was so long ago. I mean it was 27 years ago.”
While Williamson was reluctant to reveal the exact grades, another question led him to confirm that he did not receive three A* grades, and he later went on to joke with Ferrari that the answer was a “state secret”.
“I’ve forgotten! It’s so long ago. I mean it’s 27 years ago.
“I mean, you probably can’t remember what was happening last weekend, Nick,” he said.
"Why won't you tell me? Is it a state secret?"@NickFerrariLBC presses Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to reveal what his A-level results were. pic.twitter.com/HiXg6M8Rjh
— LBC (@LBC) August 10, 2021
Twitter users have since expressed disbelief that Williamson could forget that information:
FFS, I could list all of my O- and A-level subjects and grades nearly 40 years after getting them! They are forever seared into my brain. I'm guessing Frank Spencer didn't exactly excel. 🙄
— ⚫️ Brexit Inquisitor #FollowBackProEurope (@Europa_Unitum) August 10, 2021
I haven’t forgotten my A level grades from 36 years ago, nor my O level grades in each of 10 subjects. He must be embarrassed, I’d say.
— Mack Yavelli (@MYavelli) August 10, 2021
If you are listening to Gavin Williamson stumbling on discussions about A levels, waffling about universities and claiming to have ‘forgotten’ his own grades, bear in mind that Boris Johnson thinks he is the best person in parliament to oversee education.
— Ian Birrell (@ianbirrell) August 10, 2021
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on @LBC saying he’s ‘forgotten’ his own A level results because it was ‘so long ago’ pic.twitter.com/aFaDPIyYCP
— Jo Lake (@Joanne_Lake) August 10, 2021
Gavin Williamson pretending he has forgotten his A level results. He remembers everything else about the day. But apparently not the results.
— Laura McInerney (@miss_mcinerney) August 10, 2021
WHY MUST HE ALWAYS PRESENT HIMSELF AS HUGELY UNTRUSTWORTHY? https://t.co/yKJ9tX5qAm
This clip says so much about modern politics somehow. Reluctance to say anything at all https://t.co/ffzOp7LtIN
— Kate Day (@kate_day) August 10, 2021
Was it BAD? https://t.co/Cra63G9qQv
— emma jacobs (@emmavj) August 10, 2021
Oh, man. This is almost unwatchable. https://t.co/EiE4uDX16w
— Ed Dorrell (@Ed_Dorrell) August 10, 2021
Surely it’s reasonable to expect the Secretary of State for Education to reveal his A-Level grades? Claiming he can’t remember them is suspicious but failing to reveal them subsequently smacks of cowardice. If they are poor it might inspire students disappointed by their results.
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) August 11, 2021
Worry not, students. If you’re anxious about your results today, our education secretary got into the position while seemingly being unable to remember his A-Level grades.
Have hope.
