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A-level pupils protest grading in march through Canterbury

19:54, 16 August 2020

updated: 15:06, 17 August 2020

Dozens of pupils took to the streets this afternoon in protest over how their A-levels have been graded.

They marched through Canterbury city centre before giving speeches in Dane Park.

Pupils march through Canterbury city centre in protest over the grading of this year's A-levels. Picture: Jo Court
Pupils march through Canterbury city centre in protest over the grading of this year's A-levels. Picture: Jo Court
Protest organiser India Benjamin-Brown from Simon Langton Boys' Grammar. Picture: Jo Court
Protest organiser India Benjamin-Brown from Simon Langton Boys' Grammar. Picture: Jo Court

Protest organiser India Benjamin-Brown was the first to grab the megaphone.

She accused exams regulator Ofqual of "daylight robbery" and "treating people like numbers".

Jacob from Barton Court said his dog died during his mocks. He has been rejected by both his uni choices and needs to sit seven exams in two months. Picture: Jo Court
Jacob from Barton Court said his dog died during his mocks. He has been rejected by both his uni choices and needs to sit seven exams in two months. Picture: Jo Court

Insisting this year's results "are not our grades", the Simon Langton Boys' Grammar pupil added: "You took away our chances of improvement.

"You took away our rightful grades and you stole our opportunities."

The pupils marched from Westgate to Dane Park. Picture: Jo Court
The pupils marched from Westgate to Dane Park. Picture: Jo Court

After the rally, she told KentOnline the pupils now want an appeal system put in place "that takes into account the improvement that could have been made by each student past their mock".

The protest comes as Boris Johnson is facing calls to take charge of the growing A-levels “chaos” amid mounting anger among pupils, teachers and MPs.

This pupil said she was robbed of her grades due to her postcode and free school meal allowance. She does not want to see these issues worsen for her younger siblings. One is stood beside her. Picture: Jo Court
This pupil said she was robbed of her grades due to her postcode and free school meal allowance. She does not want to see these issues worsen for her younger siblings. One is stood beside her. Picture: Jo Court
The pupils chanted: "These are not our grades!" Picture: Jo Court
The pupils chanted: "These are not our grades!" Picture: Jo Court

Guidance for children in England seeking to appeal against their grades being marked down was last night suddenly withdrawn without explanation.

In a brief statement, Ofqual said the policy is “being reviewed” by its board and further information will be released “in due course”.

Watch: A-level pupil India Benjamin-Brown gives a speech in Canterbury

Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who chairs the Commons Education Committee, said the regulator’s actions have been “unacceptable”.

Today's rally in Canterbury follows another protest by Kent students held in London on Saturday.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury

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