News GCSE grades will be awarded on teacher assessment means the Education Minister’s refusal to do the same for A-Level and AS-Level is untenable, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said.

Assembly Education Committee Chair Mr Lyttle was speaking following Peter Weir’s decision, which came in the wake of the East Belfast MLA securing backing for Alliance’s triple-lock approach – meaning all pupils would receive whichever is highest of their AS-Level, teacher-assessed or CCEA calculated grade.

“This is progress for GCSE pupils and will bring some relief for those awaiting their results this Thursday,” he said.

“The Minister must now recognise errors have been made with the A-Level and AS-Level results and implement the triple lock approach – backed by the Education Committee and Assembly – to those grades.

“With each day that passes, those A-Level students with incorrect grades have been caused more distress, with university places at risk. It is a distress the Minister is effectively choosing to ignore, while the appeals process cannot deal with this matter in the time available.

“The Minister must act decisively and detail how he will implement the triple lock proposal without further delay, so we can ensure our young people get the grades they deserve.”