A TEACHING Union has hit out at complaints about grade inflation.

Sixth formers received their A-Level results on Tuesday (August 10), whilst GCSE pupils received their grades yesterday (August 12).

After exams were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the second year in a row, teachers in England submitted their decisions on pupils' grades after drawing on a range of evidence, including mock exams, coursework and in-class assessments using questions by exam boards.

The proportion of A-level entries awarded an A grade or higher nationally has risen to an all-time high.

More than two in five (44.8 per cent) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer - up by 6.3 percentage points on last year when 38.5 per cent achieved the top grades.

And nearly three in 10 (28.9 per cent) of UK GCSE entries were awarded the top grades - at least a 7 or an A grade - this year, up from 26.2 per cent last summer, according to data from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).

In 2019, when exams were last held before the pandemic, only a fifth (20.8 per cent) of entries received a 7/A grade or above.

But Steve Bird, Negotiating Secretary at the NASUWT Northumberland Association, said the term 'grade inflation' is "simply appalling".

"NASUWT members have worked extremely hard to gather all the evidence to support the grades awarded to students," he said.

"Teachers and college lecturers are professionals, they know their students and what they are capable of."

Mr Bird added: "Teachers should be applauded for their efforts this year and it is clear that going forward, the DfE will need to make plans to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on future examinations."

Following A-Level results day, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson defended this year's results amid the concerns over grade inflation, as he called on people to celebrate young people's success during a difficult year.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "Students have worked incredibly hard during an extremely challenging time and they deserve their qualifications.

"Exams are the best form of assessment and we are consulting on how to ensure they go ahead fairly next year. Ofqual will confirm the approach to grading for 2022 in the autumn term."