TORY Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has been forced into a massive U-turn over exam results just days after insisting that would not be the case.

The minister announced yesterday that England’s A-level and GCSE students’ grades would now be based on the marks predicted by their teachers, rather than the algorithm used to standardise results – made by Ofqual.

That system had led to around 40% of pupils being marked down – with those in areas of deprivation far more likely to be penalised than their more affluent peers.

Last week, Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney was forced into a similar U-turn, after the system which was used in Scotland also received backlash. In an interview with The Times on Saturday Williamson said he would not be copying Swinney.

“In Scotland you’ve got a system where there aren’t any controls; you’ve got rampant grade inflation. There’s been no checks and balances in that system; it degrades every single grade,” he said.

He added there would be “no U-turn, no change”. But by lunchtime yesterday at least 20 Tory MPs had made their concerns about the exam crisis known publicly, forcing Williamson to backtrack.

“I am sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents but hope this announcement will now provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve,” conceded Williamson.

Wales and Northern Ireland have also moved to award grades based on teacher assessments.