Students across the UK, who were due to sit their GCSE and A Level exams this year, had a shock on 18th March 2020. The exams that they had been working so hard for were cancelled! Mr Williamson, the Education Secretary, initiated this plan and mentioned that all students would receive grades that they ‘need and deserve,’ but to what extent is this true?

 

This decision should have been more thoroughly thought out and planned. Most GCSE, AS, and A Level students are having complete online classes and work independently from their computers and laptops at home, but in an environment where there are so many distractions the question can be asked, are they really able to work productively?

 

I had the honour of interviewing four students, ranging from GCSE and A Levels. Praise needs to be given to the students for taking time away from their busy schedule in order for them to answer the following questions:

 

1. How motivated are you right now, with the cancellation of the exams? Do you still feel that you’re just as productive as you were before the cancellation of the exams?

 

‘My school is doing it’s best to try and keep us productive. We are having online classes, which I think is a very good idea,’ GCSE Student

‘With this year being the first year of A-Levels for me, I’m somewhat relieved that I have a bit of time to step back and go over topics that I am struggling with,’ said Maryam Khan (AS Student)

 

2. Do you feel that all the hard work you put had paid off in the last two years (this year if AS)? Have you seen yourself improve overtime?

 

‘I do feel like the two years of hard work I put in went into waste especially because since GCSEs, I was told that A Levels were really important,’ A Level Student

‘Personally, I feel like it has not been a waste, you just have to see it in a better way: in these two years, all the work I have done, resulted in my grades… A Levels tend to expand off topics from GCSEs, so my hardwork will pay off ’ said Seliena Paul (GCSE Student)

 

3. How did your school handle the cancellation? Are they giving you enough work, despite the cancellation?

 

‘My school is still giving us enough work despite the cancellation. Even though we are less motivated than before, we are still managing to get the work done,’ GCSE Student.

‘My school does make us sign in and gives us work online like any normal school day, so in a sense that is keeping me a little occupied, since I have nothing to do,’ A Level Student

 

4. The Education Secretary said that students would get the grades that they ‘need and deserve,’ but how confident are you with this statement? Do you feel that the Education Secretary made the best move when taking this action forward?

 

‘I think the ‘need and deserve,’ statement can be misinterpreted, because some teachers can be bias… this can mess up the boundary, and changes how hard it is to get the grades,’ said Seliena Paul (GCSE Student)

‘I am sure that the Education Secretary will fairly make decisions on actual grades passed on predicted grades, and past test grades… I do feel as though it is unfair for students that may have underperformed in past tests, hoping to amend this in the real exams,’ said Maryam Khan (AS Student)

 

5. What are you currently doing with your education? Are you continuing to learn your subjects, even though you may not continue them in the future? Has the cancellation of the exams changed your perspective on the way you see education?

 

‘I am following the timetable of my regular school week… I am using the resources that my school has given us… I am still motivated to keep learning – it is also helpful, that I have an interest in the subjects I am studying,’ said Maryam Khan (AS Student)

‘I still feel that education is very important even though the exams are cancelled… I have learnt many skills in my subjects, which I can use, later on in life,’ GCSE Student

 

The students, whose life paths are determined by their education, had no say whatsoever, in this moment of chaos. With many students being heavily impacted by this alteration, a fairer choice must be made. This will create an uncertainty in their future, if it is not dealt with correctly. The students’ voices should be heard, and must be acted upon. Now!

 

Written by Lakavi Suthan, Woodford County High School.