Our response to the overturned A-level results decision

This afternoon’s decision is a great victory for pupils and parents across NI and a strong statement that we should have trusted our teachers all along.

Pure people power has won the day against a grading system born out of total disdain towards equality in education and a sinister belief that some schools are inherently more worthy of attainment; regardless of a pupil’s own efforts, talents, or merit. The fact that it came to this, should act as a wake-up call to us all.

The decision to employ this grading model in the first place should dispel the myth that our leaders give equality or social mobility any real weight in their educational decision making. Without the voice of the public stepping in, our officials would have continued to pursue a system which valued protecting those in traditionally higher achieving schools, more than it trusted the expertise of our teachers.

In NI, this affair should dispel the myth that our leaders take seriously their commitment under the Good Friday Agreement to promote Integrated Education – they instead sought to penalise it.

Lastly though, and most importantly, it should dispel the myth that change to the educational status quo is impossible. Your voice matters. Our voice matters. We can and should demand better from those who make decisions which impact our schools and students.

We should not accept that the flaws in our system are insurmountable. Inequality, fragmentation and ambivalence towards progress remain defining characteristics of our educational system and the leaders who shape it in NI. But today shows that it doesn’t have to stay that way.

The AlumNI will continue to demand better from our leaders when it comes to schooling in NI. In particular, we will continue to demand that our pupils are treated equally regardless of their background and that our schools reflect the diverse and cohesive NI that we see today, rather than our divided past.

If you want to be part of that change join us and #JoinIN!