School exam results have taken a very different course this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
GCSE students have been unable to sit their exams, therefore the government has created a number of options to assess students so they can go on to higher education.
A 'triple lock' process was announced by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson last week, which means pupils can either use their calculated result regulated by Ofqual's algorithm; use their mock exam results taken before the pandemic; or take the exams in the autumn, which will be paid for by schools.
“Every young person waiting for their results wants to know they have been treated fairly," he said.
“By ensuring students have the safety net of their mock results, as well as the chance of sitting autumn exams, we are creating a triple lock process to ensure they can have the confidence to take the next step forward in work or education.”
But in a u-turn on Monday, Mr Williamson confirmed that students will be able to use their teachers' assessments instead after around 40 percent of A-level results were downgraded in the controversial algorthim.
Pupils awarded a higher grade by the moderation process will still be allowed to keep it.
Yet following this decision, Mr Williamson said mock exam results will not be a key part of the appeals process for A-level and GCSE students in England.
Students who are unhappy with both their calculated grade and centre assessment grade will still be able to sit exams in the autumn.
Further details and guidance on how appeals can be processed have still not been published.
The appeal process is also available if students think there has been a mistake when submitting their grades during the assessment process.
