South Yorkshire Mayor and Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis responds to the Government’s announcement that A-Level and GCSE students in England will receive Centre Assessed Grades.

“I welcome the announcement this afternoon that students – who have worked incredibly hard in the most difficult of circumstances – will receive grades as assessed by their teachers, as the Labour frontbench and I have repeatedly called for.

“This U-turn underlines what I have argued all along: a system that downgrades 40% of students’ results – with a disproportionate impact on students in our most deprived communities – was simply not fit for purpose.

“We now urgently need clarity from the Government and the university sector that students who met their offers to study this September will have their places honoured.

“It is disgraceful that students, parents and teachers have been put through the unnecessary pressure and worry of the last few days. I have heard some truly heart-breaking stories from students who had seen their grades downgraded and their university, apprenticeship and training places put at risk. My heart goes out to them, and I would like to wish them all the very best for whatever they choose to do in the future.”

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