ISC Daily News Summary

BBC News reports that the Department for Education has announced the final results for A-level and GCSE students in England will be no lower than their mock exam grades. By Sean Coughlan. An article in Tes explains that students who want their mock exam results to become official will have to ask their school to appeal against the grades they are awarded on results day. By William Stewart.

Richard Backhouse, principal of Berkhamsted School, has written to The Times raising concern about the standardised grading system being used by Ofqual. The National Union of Students is calling for teacher-predicted grades to be used instead of the moderation process. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News. The Labour Party has raised concerns that pupils in certain schools will be unfairly treated as a result of the decision to use historical outcomes of institutions in the grading process. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week. The Guardian offers an editorial view on the A-level algorithms being used this year, suggesting the system "entrenches inequalities that those unable to sit exams can do nothing about". The Scottish Government has agreed to accept teacher estimates of scores in response to a backlash from students who saw their results downgraded by the country's moderation system. BBC News. The Independent reports on the views of some headteachers who hope England keeps moderation for grades following the u-turn in Scotland. By Zoe Tidman.

Cambridge International has revealed it changed nearly half of the IGCSE and International A-level grades submitted by teachers this year. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

The International Baccalaureate Organisation has written to school leaders to unveil a series of changes to next year's exams. By Claudia Civinini, Tes.

Michelle Donelan, minister of state for universities, writes in iNews stating that due to this being an exceptional year, students "can expect some degree of flexibility from universities and higher education providers in their admissions processes".

Boris Johnson has said that schools with effective Covid-secure rules will be able to reopen safely next month, despite research by Public Health England suggesting that older pupils did catch Covid-19 from each other. By Chris Smyth and Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

The Telegraph reports on a warning from headteachers that businesses should not expect parents to work full time at the office during the autumn because schools may not be running full timetables. By Camilla Turner.

The Guardian's 'Clearing guide 2020' looks at what is expected to be "the biggest clearing day yet". By Rachel Hall.

A study by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies has found that first generation university students are more likely to drop out than those with graduate parents, prompting a call for universities and the Government to offer more support to students. By Sally Guyoncourt, iNews.