Fury, anger and disappointment from A-level students across the nation after many of them missed places at university.
Students from across the UK are to hold socially-distanced, static pickets outside Department for Education (DfE) buildings in London, Bristol, Coventry, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester at 1pm on Thursday, August 20.
This follows the series of protests including one that took place in Nottingham, on August 17.
There will also be an online picket hosted by the National Union of Students (NUS) at the same time on Twitter and Instagram.
Students are protesting against this year’s ‘exam fiasco’ and calling for a full review into grade inequality to prevent ‘future acts of injustice’.
Over the past week A-level students lost fought for university places. Despite the government’s U-turn, many students are still unable to take up the university places meant for them this year, because their course is now at capacity or because they have already made alternative arrangements.
Students nationwide campaigned for A-Level and GCSE results to be based on centre assessed grades and to abolish the moderation system.
Larissa Kennedy, President of the NUS, said: “Students will be taking to the streets because they are fed up of not being listened to.
“The government subjected students to an assessment system that has further entrenched educational inequality, and the U-turn was too little too late, meaning many of the most marginalised students have had their rightful university places torn away from them. This is not justice.
“But this is not just about this year – it is about every student, in every postcode, in every year. Our education is built on classism, racism and ableism.
“We see this through the use of predicted grades and the underfunding of our schools, colleges and universities that creates a postcode lottery, year on year.”
Larissa said that more needs to be done in order to assure young people a brighter academic system.
“We need a complete overhaul our system of exams and grading. In its place, we need investment into our education, our teachers, our students, our resources in order to end educational injustice once and for all.
“We stand in deep solidarity with everyone who took action not only for their education, but for future generations. Students across the UK demand #JusticeForEducation.”
By Olimpia Zagnat