AN A-level student has blasted the Government and exam board Pearson after its lack of clarity surrounding BTec subjects.

Hannah Iley-Holman, of Prudhoe Community High School, was left disappointed last Thursday after her result in Applied Science meant she would have to do a foundation year as part of her degree to be admitted to her chosen university.

The 18-year-old said: “I think it is really unfair that they haven’t chosen to give out teacher assessments for vocational subjects and allowed it purely for A-levels.

“I was downgraded in two of my subjects. Teachers believed I should have received a C in Sociology and a merit in my Science and with these grades, along with my Business grade, I would have received more than enough points to get onto my course of choice.

“However since they are not awarding teacher assessments for vocational subjects, I will still remain with a pass in my Science which does not give me the points I was expected to receive in order to get into university.”

Hannah had always planned to take a gap-year, but the controversial algorithm has made her reconsider her future.

She said: “I am still attending university next year, however it has made me re-think my choices as my firm choice has now been changed to a foundation year which I was never intending to do.

“As a pupil, it is annoying to see so much effort that you have put into work to not see the results you deserve, especially when even from teacher assessments they agree that you should receive that grade, but the government won’t allow it.

“ I thought they should have gone off teacher assessments from the beginning as they have the best idea of how pupils would have achieved compared to how the Government believes we would have achieved.”

Hannah praised the school for its support, whilst she waited to hear back from Manchester Metropolitan University in relation to her firm choice - business psychology - and insurance choice, and from the Government.