Northampton health and social care A-Level equivalent students finally receive results but science students dealt another blow

A number of students who did not receive their level three qualification results last week, now finally know how they did.

Last Thursday when thousands of other teenagers across the country were receiving their results, 59 Health and Social care students at Northampton College were expecting to find out how they did.

On the day, 31 did receive their results, however 28 were left waiting with growing concerns around losing university places, due to an issue with NCFE CACHE, the awarding body.Northampton College has confirmed that all health and social care students have now received their results, although further delays have come to light with a separate governing body that is regrading all BTECs in line with A-Level and GCSE regrading.

Pat Brennan-Barrett, principal of Northampton College, said: "A small number of Northampton College’s level three health and social care students did not receive results last Thursday as they had expected.

"Since then, the college has been working closely with colleagues at NCFE CACHE – the relevant awarding organisation - to finalise and communicate results for the 28 students affected.

“The college is grateful to NCFE CACHE for working so quickly and constructively with us to process these results.

"We understand how difficult the last few days have been for students affected by the delayed communication of results.

“We appreciate the patience and goodwill which they and their families have shown during that time.

"I am also grateful to NCFE CACHE colleagues for their support and the action they have taken to finalise results for our students.

“Whilst working with them to finalise results, we also liaised closely with university admissions teams to support students’ progression into higher education – and will continue to do that until students have secured places they’re happy to take up.”

A spokesperson for NCFE CACHE added: “We really do appreciate how challenging a situation this has been for students and their families.

“We worked closely with the college to understand the issue and resolve it as quickly as we possibly could once we had the information we needed from the college.

“We remain on standby to support the college in admissions discussion with universities as they consider helpful.”

However, hundreds of students who study sciences, applied sciences and business subjects moderated by awarding body Pearson have been dealt another blow after not receiving their results last week either.

Pearson has now decided to regrade all Level 3 qualifications across the country in line with the A-Level and GCSE regrading, so students will have an even longer wait before they finally get their hands on their results.

A spokeswoman for the awarding body said: “Following Ofqual’s announcement that A Level and GCSE students are to receive centre assessed grades, we will be applying the same principles for students receiving BTEC results this summer.

“We will be regrading BTECs to address concerns about unfairness in relation to A Levels and GCSEs and ensure no BTEC student is disadvantaged.

“We know this could cause additional uncertainty for students and we are sorry about this. Our priority is to ensure fair outcomes for BTEC students and we will work around the clock to provide revised grades as soon as we can.”

Cindy Rampersaud, Senior Vice-President for Pearson, added: “Because BTEC results are largely based on modular teacher-assessed projects and assignments, overall grade outcomes have been generally consistent with teacher and learner expectations.

“However, following Monday’s announcement from Ofqual and feedback from students, teachers, schools and colleges, we became concerned about fairness, including consistency with the approaches now being used for GCSEs and A levels.

“We are working around the clock to provide students with updated results as soon as possible and will share more information as soon as we can, including when students should expect to receive their updated results.”

A date for the release of the update results has not yet been announced.

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