The headteacher of a high school says over 60 per cent of their students were affected by the downgraded A-level results.

Edward Conway, the headteacher of St Michael’s Catholic High School in Garston, says that some students who were predicted B’s or C’s were even downgraded to U’s by exam boards.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, A-level students were set to receive their predicted grades rather than taking part in an exam.

But exam boards downgraded nearly two in five (39.1 per cent) pupils’ grades in England, according to data from Ofqual – which amounts to around 280,000 entries being adjusted down after moderation.

Yesterday, Mr Conway said that students, families and teachers will be “bitterly disappointed” by the results.

Now Mr Conway revealed that 60 per cent of their A-level students were affected by the downgraded results, despite the predicted grades being made with “integrity and honesty”.

This comes after Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) suggested that some predicted grades across the country were “implausibly high”.

But Mr Conway argues that the school did not inflate grades and even urged the regulation board to examine their evidence and data which backs the predicted grades made.

He said that the school would “certainly” appeal the grades once further official guidance is announced.

Current options to appeal and review the results are quite limited, and Mr Conway is hopeful the government will extend these options.

Mr Conway said: “I have students that should have had four straight A’s and should be going to the top universities to study medicine, who now cannot go.

“I’ve been in education for thirty years, and this is the greatest injustice I’ve ever experienced in my time teaching.

“They (the students) have been working incredibly hard for so many years.”

The head teacher questioned how some schools saw upgraded results from their predictions, while some of his pupils were downgraded to U’s while not even sitting an exam.

Senior leaders have been helping students and families worried about the grades received to guide them on what to do next.

Mr Conway explained that he even contacted many universities urging them to reconsider their rejections – saying some have been compassionate while others could not change their stance.

He has also contacted Watford MP Dean Russell in hopes he can share concerns to education secretary Gavin Williamson.