ESTIMATED A-level grades will now be decided by students’ teachers rather than an algorithm following a massive government U-turn.

About 40 per cent of the results revealed last Thursday were lower than expected after exams regulator Ofqual used a formula based on the performance of previous students.

After a storm of protest the change came on Monday afternoon, with Ofqual chairman Roger Taylor and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson apologising for the “distress” caused and “significant inconsistencies” in the grading process. The change will also apply to GCSE results due tomorrow (Thursday).

Simon Williams, headmaster of Churcher’s College in Petersfield, hit out at the A-level results last Thursday. He said: “It does feel the individual has been disregarded in an effort to make the overall stats work.

“The exam boards have largely disregarded all calculating of grades based upon all the empirical data we have on individual students and the professional opinion of teachers.

“As two of this year’s cohort commented, it is very much ‘lucky dip’ this year.”

After the U-turn, Mike Gaston – principal of HSDC, which has campuses in Alton, Havant and Purbrook – said: “This has been an extremely distressing time for students, parents and teachers.

“Some of the inconsistencies in the algorithm applied had an unintended consequence of downgrading students, with a number failing to meet university entry requirements despite mocks and centre assessed grades saying otherwise.

“This decision, although late in the day, brings considerable relief to the many students who can now receive the outcomes their teachers believed they were working at and deserved. This in turn will allow many to take up their chosen university place.”

East Hampshire MP and former education secretary Damian Hinds said: “This has been a very difficult year for everyone but especially for young people coming up to A-levels, BTECs, GCSEs and other qualifications who have not been able to show what they can do in the usual way, in an exam. No formula can know what a student would be able to show, on the day, under exam conditions.

“There has been huge anxiety for many young people and their families. It will be a relief there is now clarity in terms of grades and it will help with university capacity constraints that student number restrictions are being lifted.

“It is important now that renewed offers are confirmed as soon as possible, so young people can look forward to and plan for the next stage in their journey.”

In last Thursday’s results, five Churcher’s College students earned four A*s, five got three A*s and 10 had all A*s except one A.

At HSDC, more than a quarter got only A* or A grades, and 53 per cent had grades which were all in the A* to B range. The overall pass rate was 97.9 per cent.

Bedales School in Steep’s high achievers included Toby Fairs (four A*s and an A in the extended project qualification), Norpell Wilberforce (three A*s and an A* in the EPQ) and Freya Leonard (three A*s).