There may not have been any disruption to the course but our education system is linear. We build kids up over a long period of time to sit their exams, it’s not purely about the content of the exams being taught. As an example, an A level Lang/Lit student may well have learned everything about Seamus Heaney but they won’t have covered any poetry at GCSE level due to missing half their year 10 and then it not being assessed in the “mini tests” or whatever was done to substitute their GCSE’s. So much of the basic knowledge and skills were missing meaning that GCSE and A level students were starting the course at a disadvantage compared with pre 2020 cohorts and in the 2022 exam period this was rightfully recognised. The “everyone’s in the same boat” line just doesn’t hold water as it’s simply untrue. Not everyone was in the same boat: some were kids of key workers, some had zoom lessons throughout, some didn’t do anything due to their home circumstances, some had no internet access, some had SEN, etc etc. I genuinely believe that the pandemic has left a serious mark on this generation both socially and educationally and that that should be recognised. Of course, it should eventually go back to normal but surely some adjustments should be made for at least the next few years. Scotland and Wales (not sure about NI) have also chosen to recognise this yet for some reason Secretary Gillian Keegan doesn’t seem to have acted. Aibu?