Fairness and equity must be at the heart of the process awarding pupils grades in the cancelled GCSE, AS and A-Levels, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said.

It follows Education Minister Peter Weir confirming teachers will predict the grades they think pupils would have achieved, with schools also asked to rank pupils in each subject.

“This process is unprecedented and as a result, we need to ensure fairness and equity is at the heart of it,” said Mr Lyttle, Chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee.

“As part of that, there must be a robust appeals mechanism and the ability for cost-effective re-sits for anyone who wishes to go down that route. In addition, we have to make sure whatever additional support we can provide for teachers and pupils to navigate these new arrangements, including access to ICT and tutorial resources.

“In my role as Education Committee Chair, I will also be inviting the Minister, as well as CCEA, to the Committee to set out the thoughts behind this process in more detail and responding to concerns members may have.”