In response to the significant attrition rate of close to 30% among university students following the issuance of A-level grades during the pandemic, the British government is returning to its
previous method of evaluating high school students.
The move was announced by Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, marking the first instance since 2019 that students will receive conventional grades. Keegan, discussing the decision in The Sunday Times, explained, "During the pandemic, grade assessments led to higher results, and now we are shifting back to grades more akin to 2019. This adjustment may raise questions for students and parents."
The change is driven by a recognition that the elevated grades awarded during the pandemic did not align with the students' actual preparedness for university curricula. Keegan emphasized, "It is crucial for qualifications to retain their value, ensuring that universities and employers can accurately differentiate between grades in their recruitment processes, ultimately securing deserving opportunities for students."
As a consequence of this shift, it is anticipated that nearly 75,000 fewer A* and A grades will be conferred this year in comparison to the prior academic year. This alteration could lead to one in five students failing to secure their preferred university choice, particularly as top-tier institutions often require exemplary grades for admission.
The government's rationale behind the abrupt change lies in the belief that the lenient grading approach during the pandemic led to an influx of students gaining entry to prestigious institutions but subsequently struggling to keep up with academic demands, leading to high dropout rates. Notably, the University of Bedfordshire reported the highest attrition rate at 32%, followed by London Metropolitan University with a rate of 22.2%.
An illustration of the generosity of pandemic-era grading can be seen in private schools, where the proportion of A* results surged from 33.8% in 2019 to a staggering 90.2% in 2021. A government source stated, "Data reveals that nearly 30% of young individuals discontinued certain university courses over the two years of pandemic-related grading. Employing grading systems that inadequately support their advancement is not in the best interest of these students."
The data further highlights that over 32,600 students withdrew their loans solely in the past academic year, a stark increase from the 22,652 students who had withdrawn their loans at the commencement of the pandemic. The government's decision to revert to the traditional grading system is motivated by a commitment to maintaining the integrity and value of educational qualifications in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. Photo by Thomas Nugent, Wikimedia commons.