Authorities appoints prime civil servant to deal with exams response

The federal government has appointed a senior civil servant to guide on its response to exams amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Susan Acland-Hood will turn into the Division for Schooling’s second everlasting secretary for six weeks.

It comes after a backlash and u-turn over A stage and GCSE outcomes.

The algorithm used to average this yr’s grades led to 1000’s of scholars being downgraded – so the federal government reverted to trainer assessments to find out marks.

Early on in lockdown, the federal government cancelled exams as a result of happen over the summer time as a result of outbreak.

College students throughout the UK had been nonetheless awarded grades for his or her programs in August, however the administrations in England, Scotland Wales and Northern Eire all needed to u-turn away from algorithms that lowered 1000’s of grades in the direction of trainer assessments.

In a press release, the Cupboard Workplace stated Ms Acland-Hood’s appointment would “be sure that the federal government is ready to reply totally to examination outcomes, while additionally guaranteeing the return of colleges in September”.

The brand new deputy everlasting secretary is at the moment the chief govt of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, however has beforehand labored as a director within the DfE and as a senior adviser on schooling coverage in No 10.

She started her short-term function on Friday, and her deputy on the courts service, Kevin Sandler, will take over from her whereas she is in place.