More than 800 Manx students will today (Thursday) receive their GCSE results in what education chiefs hope will be a one-off year.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, students have not sat exams but will instead receive results based on their centre assessment grades.

Despite the cancellation of all exams in March 2020, grades will be awarded to Year 11 pupils for Cambridge IGCSE, WJEC GCSE, BTEC Level 1 and 2, SQA and other vocational qualifications.

The results had been thrown into turmoil following the grading fiasco in the UK caused by results being calculated from recommendations by teachers combined with statistical modelling.

However on Monday night, iomtoday.co.im broke the news that the Cambridge board has reversed this decision and has instead ruled that ’grades we issue for the June 2020 series will not be lower than the predicted grade submitted by their school’.

Where grades issued by Cambridge are higher than the predicted grade, that higher grade will stand.

Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Dr Alex Allinson said: ’I hope all students get the results they hoped for and deserve on Thursday. They have shown remarkable resilience during an uncertain period.

’It is both my aim and that of the department that all of our young people receiving results find a positive way forward, wwhether they choose to enter further education in a school or University College Isle of Man, undertake training, become an apprentice or enter into employment.’

In summer 2019, nearly 90% of 16 year old school leavers continued in education or training and this trend is expected to continue this year.

Dr Allinson added: ’I understand the cancellation of exams was both difficult and upsetting and I urge any students with concerns following their results to speak with their schools, whom will be able to provide support and guidance.’

School staff will be available at each school, from 8am or 9am depending on the school, to provide Year 11 leavers with their results and to offer support as to their next steps.

Their UCM colleagues will also be available for Year 11 leavers each weekday from Thursday, August 20, at the Homefield Road campus, to discuss options for further education at UCM.