What the papers say – August 16
Calls for heads to roll over the ongoing A-level results “fiasco” leads the nation’s Sunday papers.
The Sunday Mirror says Labour and Lib Dem representatives have called for Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to resign amid the A-level exam “disaster” which has resulted in almost 40% of predicted grades being downgraded by exam regulator Ofqual’s “moderation” algorithm.
Tomorrow's front page: Sack our biggest failure#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/UsOcs44bDvpic.twitter.com/LvonAN8WlD
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 15, 2020
The Observer reports the Ofqual algorithm will also be used to award GCSEs, leading to concerns that even more results could be downgraded.
Tomorrow’s front page pic.twitter.com/iCgvh3bPgx
— The Observer (@ObserverUK) August 15, 2020
The Sunday Times says “angry” parents are “turning to the courts” in a bid to rectify their children’s downgraded results.
In tomorrow's The Sunday Times: Exam results chaos to end in court battle. And: MP in rape claim can return to Commons #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/haZ0fdICRO
— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) August 15, 2020
Meanwhile the Sunday Express carries an interview with Mr Williamson, who says he is determined to make sure students return to classrooms in September because the risks otherwise are “too high to ignore”.
Tomorrow's front page:https://t.co/xmSKf2lr6I#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/9ELYnUMni1
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) August 15, 2020
Elsewhere, The Sunday Telegraph leads with Health Minister Matt Hancock’s decision to scrap Public Health England and replace it with a new body “specifically designed to protect the country against a pandemic”.
The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph: Hancock axes 'failing' public health body #TomorrowsPapersToday
Read the full story: https://t.co/GUdessCwfnpic.twitter.com/qfS5636TGy
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 15, 2020
The Mail on Sunday reports Home Secretary Priti Patel has “sparked a diplomatic row” with Paris over her comments that migrants were crossing the Channel to escape “racist” France.
THE MAIL ON SUNDAY: Priti in racist French storm #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/JwdYzsIsrL
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) August 15, 2020
Britain faces a “homelessness crisis” as the Government’s protection on evictions expires, according to The Independent.
New: No 10 warned they have just seven days to prevent a wave of homelessness as rental eviction ban expires https://t.co/JfrS0XarL0pic.twitter.com/g3UebMo8q5
— Ashley Cowburn (@ashcowburn) August 15, 2020
Sunday People reports the country will not recover from the pandemic-induced recession “until 2023”.
SUNDAY PEOPLE: Boris’ three year slump #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/Ml8Rknkl9t
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) August 15, 2020
And the Daily Star says Eastenders favourite Ian Beale is being written out of the show.
Tomorrow's front page: https://t.co/FqjMJPECD8#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/mkQF0Kj8C5
— Daily Star (@dailystar) August 15, 2020