Friday 14-08-2020 - 10:43

Yesterday morning thousands of students across England woke up and checked their A-Level results, as they do every year. Some got what they expected, and some didn’t, as they do every year. This year, however, the grades many received were not influenced by skill, hard work, or tenacity: rather an algorithm designed to estimate what students would receive, despite their teachers’ informed estimates of their potential often being several grades higher. Countless students have been stripped of the opportunity to reach their potential due to a faceless algorithm designed to see them as numbers and statistics, rather than determined, dynamic, and deserving students. 

Bristol SU is dedicated to championing the voices of our past, present, and future students, as well as experienced front-runners in pushing for diversity and equality in education. Many students’ results yesterday were affected by a disproportionate and unjust system, and that is not fair. Many of these students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and will only be hurt further by the cost of applying for appeals, as well as the emotional toll all down-graded students are now facing. 

Bristol SU aims to not only support students as students, but as citizens and as community members. Our communities cannot thrive if members are being systematically disadvantaged. This injustice will affect more than just those receiving the grades: these are our future teachers, NHS staff, social workers, public safety workers, government officials, journalists, lawyers, key workers, engineers, artists, linguists, and leaders – they deserve the chance to achieve their potential. 

To those of you impacted by this decision making, know we stand with you, and we look forward to welcoming all our incoming students with open arms. Your grades do not, and should not, define you, and this moment will not either. We stand in solidarity with the students country-wide who have been impacted by this decision making, and whole-heartedly support the NUS petition to the government to right the wrong done to them. 

At Bristol SU we will always champion the voices of marginalised students and work so that everyone can access the quality education they deserve. 

Your Bristol SU Officer Team 

 

You can sign the NUS petition here >> https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/nus-uk/a-level-results-sign-the-petition