A MUM from Worcester has blasted the government’s A Level grading system after her daughter’s results were downgraded, leaving her unable to go to her first choice university.

Kay Mullet’s daughter Phoebe picked up her results from Hanley Castle Sixth Form this week to find her grades had been lowered, meaning she was rejected by Sheffield University.

Mrs Mullet said: “I am a very concerned, appalled and disappointed mum this morning. The government has failed our students yet again by producing a set of dreadfully low A level results. These kids have had their lives destroyed twice, once by Covid and then by having to receive A level results way below consistent work and mock results. It's a scandal.”

Mrs Mullet’s daughter was predicted to achieve three A grades but only received a B and two Cs on results day. They will be appealing to have the scores re-assessed.

Mrs Mullet added: “Her results are a disgrace and in no way represent the hard work that she put into her A levels.”

Phoebe said: “When I opened my results and read BCC I thought there must have been a mistake, I have always been on track for much higher grades.

“Sheffield University rejected me based on these grades and I was absolutely devastated. After speaking to my teachers it was heartbreaking to find out that if the grades they had put forward hadn’t been downgraded by Ofqual’s algorithm, I would have been accepted by Sheffield University.

"Furthermore, Sheffield University refused to hold my place whilst I appealed my grades. I was told over the phone that the course would probably be full by the time the appeal had gone through.

“Many of my friends have experienced the same if not worse, and many of them are having to retake the whole year. I feel as though the government has failed us young people once again, and our futures will suffer from their poor decision-making and unfair algorithm.”

This week’s results saw as many as 40 per cent of students receive lower grades than predicted, leaving many unsure about where they will now be going to university.

Speaking as the results were released, Hanley Castle headteacher Lindsey Cooke said: “We are certainly looking to challenge some grades in biology, chemistry, economics, English literature, geography, history, maths, physics and politics, as many of the grades awarded in these subjects are lower than those achieved by students in their March mocks.”