GCSE results day 2020: Moulton School and Science College rues students having so many memory-making opportunities stolen by coronavirus

Moulton School and Science College paid tribute to its GCSE students as they received their results today (Thursday, August 20) despite having 'so many memory-making opportunities' stolen from them by the coronavirus pandemic.

Acting head teacher Angie Dabbs said it has been a difficult time full of both anxiety and stress for everyone concerned as well as a complex and unprecedented awarding process for grades.

"Along with a number of other schools in the county, I can reassure students that Moulton School applied the rules ethically, and with honesty and integrity in order to serve our young people to the best of our ability," she said.

Grades have been decided by teachers after exams were cancelled because of Covid-19 and the government's U-turn over its controversial statistical modelling.

Schools were asked to make their best assessment of what grade a student would be most likely to receive if they had taken the examinations and to place candidates in rank order.

The school was then directed by the government to apply an initial standardisation process considering a range of internally held evidence to ensure grades awarded this year were consistent with those awarded to other cohorts in other years.

This was deemed to be the fairest possible approach available under extreme circumstances, Dr Dabbs said.

Some students will still be waiting for final grades as the awarding bodies for BTECs and Cambridge Nationals take more time to adjust their calculations.

A school spokesperson said: "This awful pandemic has stolen so many memory-making opportunities for our Year 11 pupils.

"They have missed end-of-year assemblies, their prom, and a celebratory results day on-site with their teachers.

"Through it all, however, they have been a superb year group full of energy, enthusiasm and a determination to do well.

"It is such a shame they have not had a real opportunity to test their skills under true examination conditions."

Year Leader Helen Tovey said she was pleased to see that students had been rewarded properly for their efforts.

"They were a wonderful year group who were hardworking, caring, and extremely talented in many different ways," she added.