More BTec students could face delays to results

Some BTec level 2 students will not get their results as expected on Thursday, an exam board has suggested.

About 235,000 BTec Firsts, Technicals and Tech Award grades were scheduled to be sent to students on Thursday.

But exam board Pearson said that, as of Wednesday morning, 7,000 students were "ineligible to receive their grade".

Pearson said it had "a dedicated team" working to obtain any outstanding information and would provide any results "as quickly as possible".

Results for GCSEs, as well as other vocational and technical qualifications, are also due to be released on Thursday.

Pearson's announcement does not affect results for GCSEs.

• What you need to know about this year's GCSEs

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The affected BTec students could be deemed "ineligible" because some of their marks are not logged in the system, the BBC understands.

This may be because of processing issues, or, in some instances, because the pupil has decided not to continue with their BTec studies.

'Frustrating'

By Hayley Clarke

Jacqueline Williamson is worried that BTec delays could affect her son, as well as her daughter

Jacqueline Williamson, 48, a nurse in a fertility unit from Washington, in Tyne and Wear, was worried when her daughter, Sian Wright, 18, was affected by delays to BTec Level 3 results last week.

Now she fears her son, Owen Wright, 16, may be affected by the recently announced delays to BTec Level 2 results.

"He did two BTecs... so there is the potential for delays," she told the BBC.

She says she is "absolutely devastated" for "all the kids - who deserve better".

"They've had two years of disrupted education - through no-one's fault - during the pandemic," she says.

"I feel they've been massively let down and disrespected. These exam boards know results' day is coming - it's like Christmas, you know when it's coming.

"It's just so frustrating."

'Eligibility checks'

Pearson cannot currently confirm how many students who are expecting grades on Thursday will not receive them.

In a statement on Wednesday, the exam board said: "As of 09:00 BST today, there are 7,000 students that are currently ineligible to receive their grade as they do not meet the qualification criteria at this time.

"We have a dedicated team in place to work with schools and colleges to obtain and validate any outstanding information."

Pearson said it was focused on "running those eligibility checks and providing any results as quickly as possible to students". It thanked schools and colleges for "tirelessly supporting us in this work".

• Anger as late exam results delay uni places

• Apology to students over delay to BTec results

School leaders' union NAHT said: "This will cause unnecessary anxiety and stress as young people seek to confirm their places with sixth forms, colleges and training providers."

Sarah Hannafin, its senior policy adviser, added: "And with no result, how can they celebrate their achievements with family and friends?"

The Department for Education in England said it was working with exams regulator Ofqual to make sure grades are awarded "as quickly as possible", and that it expected schools and colleges "to hold places offered to students who are awaiting results, to ensure they can still progress".

Last week, Pearson apologised after some BTec level 3 students did not receive their results on the day they were expected, in some cases putting the chance of securing a university place in doubt.

Pearson said a "very small percentage" of its BTec students were affected.

Another exam board, OCR, has also experienced delays issuing Cambridge Technicals results to some students.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour's shadow education secretary, said "chaos" around BTec results was "unacceptable", adding: "It's appalling that students are still waiting on results from last week."

The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.

Overall grades for GCSEs on Thursday are expected to be lower than 2020 and 2021, when grades based on teachers' assessments led to a rise in top marks.

But - as with last week's A-level results - they are projected to be higher than grades in 2019.

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