A BRADFORD student is among those left outraged over their first-year health and science T Level results.

The course was launched in 2021 and there is now anger from students who feel “failed” and “falsely informed” after they received lower than expected grades.

The health and science T Levels are described by awarding body NCFE as a “high-quality, work-focused alternative to A Levels for young people one they’ve completed their GCSES”.

A petition was launched, which currently has nearly 1,200 signatures, to call for grade adjustments.

It claims the content taught was not relevant to the exam and the textbook was provided only a few weeks before.

It also claims there were topics and significant theories not on the syllabus for pupils to learn.

Leonie Reeve, from Thornton, is a student at Shipley College and said she feels “let down”.

She praised the college and her tutors as “amazing” and said they have been supportive but has spoken of her upset at the situation.

The 17-year-old said: “As we are the first year to do the T Level health and science, yes, we are initially guinea pigs doing this but doesn't mean that they can treat us like this as this is our education and the future for all health services, especially the NHS.

“My confidence has been knocked in the educational system. I feel as if I cannot trust the awarding body for my last year, even if this gets sorted.”

She said the issue needs to be addressed quickly and students regraded.

Leonie’s mum, Ann-Marie Howard, 54, described it as a “national outcry” and in a letter to Bradford West MP Naz Shah spoke of how students had been getting Bs in their mocks, and then received low grades in their actual exams – a situation she claimed is indicative of a flaw in the syllabus and/or exams.

Leonie received a C an E and a U. She’d braced herself for disappointment in the science exam and claimed the content did not reflect what students learned throughout the year but said: “The employer-set project I should have got a B and my main exam, the health and social exam, I should have got a B. My tutors expected a good result.”

The NCFE said its working closely with providers and relevant organisations to “truly understand all concerns”.

It added the results are not reflective of students’ final results and there are a “further two opportunities to retake core assessments”.

The NCFE added: “We’re continuously exploring how we can enhance our service to providers to further strengthen their delivery, and, in addition to the support offered to date, we’re currently developing our support delivery plan for 2022-23. 

“This will include an intense focus on teaching areas of challenge identified through this year’s results, and will span a range of channels including webinars, training sessions, and face-to-face support ahead of resits.”