by Matt Trinder @TrinderMatt

EDUCATION unions blasted the Tories for plucking numbers “out of the air” to determine next year’s school exam results in response to plans to deal with grade inflation during the Covid-19 crisis, announced today.

New Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi confirmed today that GCSE and A-level grades in England will be returned to pre-crisis levels over the next two years.

Next summer’s results will be adjusted to a “mid-point” between 2019 and this year, the former vaccine deployment minister said. 

He claimed that exams will definitely take place in 2022 after two consecutive summers of cancellations due to the pandemic, but the option of teacher-assessed results — used after schools were shut by the pandemic leading to higher grades — will be kept in reserve.

From February, teachers will also get notice of exam topics to aid student revision and pupils will have a choice of questions and further support materials in some subjects.

Mr Zahawi said that this would help to put “fairness at the heart” of the system.

But National Education Union joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said that ministers were “picking an arbitrary number out of the air” to determine grades. 

“Such a random act undermines their argument that exams are the fairest way to assess students,” she said.

“While last summer’s system wasn’t perfect, the grades at least were a reflection of what students themselves had done, rather than simply reflecting how much better or worse they were than their peers.”

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman called for exam content information to be shared earlier.

“It would enable teachers to do the very best for their students, ensuring they cover as much of the specification as possible and that they are well prepared for the exams and assessments,” he said.