WESTMINSTER is being urged to "follow Scotland" and scrap moderated grades, after Education Secretary John Swinney today announced that SQA adjustments would be ignored in favour of teachers' estimates.

Around 133,000 entries in the SQA's system had been adjusted. Students in Scotland’s most deprived areas had their Higher pass rate reduced by 15.2% while their peers in more affluent areas had their rates reduced by just 6.9%.

Controversially, the exams body had done this in part by looking at each school’s previous history of results. However, the UK Government now looks poised to do the exact same thing in England.

READ MORE: John Swinney U-turns on 'classist' SQA results controversy

Speaking after Swinney's announcement this afternoon, the National Union of Students (NUS) president, Larissa Kennedy, said: "In these unprecedented circumstances the UK Government should follow the lead of Scotland by scrapping moderated grades.

"This temporary measure must be taken to avoid a situation in which thousands of students do not receive the grades they deserve because of where they live."

She added that using teachers' estimates of grades was the "least worst option available" and the situation had "exposed inherent failings" in the exam system as a whole.

"We must use this opportunity to design fair assessments for all students in future," she went on.

"The Scottish Government have taken decisive action to respond to this situation, which must now be reflected across the UK.

"Students have worked incredibly hard throughout their education, and their efforts should be recognised.

"Now should be a time to celebrate their achievements rather than place a limit on their potential."

READ MORE: MSPs vote to debate motion of no confidence in John Swinney

Echoing Kennedy, the general secretary of the University and College Union, Jo Grady, said: "The U-turn and apology from John Swinney is welcome and the rest of the UK must now ensure that no student misses out because of a flawed system of awarding marks.

"Students should be congratulated for their hard work in these unprecedented circumstances and deserve better than this mess.

"Allowing algorithms to downgrade marks and hold students back was wrong. Many students’ life chances could still be damaged because of a clearly faulty system."

Matt Crilly, NUS Scotland's president, added: "I want to recognise the young people across Scotland who protested unfair treatment and lobbied the Scottish Government, resulting in today’s change of direction.

“While we recognise that there is no perfect solution to the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the cancellation of exams, we welcome the approach the Scottish Government has now outlined.

"It's crucial that students from disadvantaged backgrounds, are not disadvantaged by our assessment system, during the current pandemic or in the future. As such, we welcome the independent reviews announced by the government today.

Crilly added: “Fantastic progress has been made to widen access in recent years and I hope that progress will only be accelerated this year– with more students from poorer backgrounds gaining entry to further or higher education than ever before.

"We welcome that the Scottish Government has today committed to funding these additional places."