WELSH unions are calling for fairness in next year's exams after seeing significant rises in pass rates for A-level and GCSEs from results based on teachers' assessments.

Ministers have already warned that students sitting A-levels, AS-levels and GCSEs next summer in Wales could face further disruptions to their studies and have launched an independent review into what went wrong this year.

They have also apologised to anyone affected by Wales' controversial grading system, which saw Wales follow Scotland, Northern Ireland and England and scrap the moderated "standardisation".

Pupils are now being awarded results based on teacher assessments following an outcry from students, teachers, unions and politicians.

In Wales, 42 per cent of A-level results predicted by teachers were lowered by Qualifications Wales, leading to claims that its algorithm, which took into account the past performances of schools, had unfairly downgraded some pupils.

Figures from Qualifications Wales show that GCSE results this year are "substantially higher" than recently with 25.9 per cent of students receiving A* or A grades, up from 18.4 per cent in 2019.

It also said 74.5 per cent of students received A* to C grades, compared to 62.8 per cent last year.

The regulator also revised its estimated pass rates for A-levels after the Welsh Government's U-turn, with 41.3 per cent getting A* or A, compared to last week's moderated 29.9 per cent or 27 per cent in 2019.

Following the publication of the results, the National Education Union Cymru has launched a petition with the Welsh Parliament asking for fairness for students taking exams next year.

Its Wales secretary David Evans said: "Young people have had a tough time during the coronavirus outbreak.

"Now we need to urgently make sure the situation of this year's results doesn't happen again next year.

"The Welsh Government must now take urgent steps to ensure students due to sit A-level, Welsh Baccalaureate and GCSE exams in 2021 are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged by their backgrounds.

"In Wales, with AS-levels, and more focus on coursework, we have had a solid basis on which to judge students' work.

"However, allowances must be made for the time students have missed in school or college over the last few months.

"We must build confidence so that the grades awarded, upon which young people's life chances are determined, properly recognise and reward their achievements.

"We know the minister plans to launch an independent review, which is very welcome, and we look forward to hearing further plans.

"But we can't emphasise enough how urgent this is."

Eithne Hughes, director of the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru, said this year's crisis had "thrown the spotlight on a system which is far too obsessed with statistics".

"It fixates on ensuring consistency in the distribution of grades from one year to the next and thus ensures that a certain proportion of young people always leave school feeling as though they have fallen short," she said.

"This year more students will receive higher grades because of the decision to revert to centre-assessed grades.

"But this is by accident rather than by design.

"In the longer term, we have to think again about our statistics-fixated system.

"We have to do better."

Though thousands of students are getting GCSE results, it was announced on Wednesday that BTec results issued by Pearsons exam board would be held back for regrading.

Plaid Cymru's education spokeswoman Sian Gwenllian said the decision would have "serious repercussions for thousands of students across Wales".

"Young people are being let down again and this is simply not good enough," she said.

"Now there is more waiting, more uncertainty and once again students following BTec courses are being treated as second class citizens."

Earlier this week education minister Kirsty Williams apologised "directly and unreservedly" for any anguish caused.

On Thursday she said students had many "many sacrifices", adding: "It has been a year like no other, and today will feel a bit different.

"These results are a reflection and reward for your hard work, prior attainment in exams, and school assessment, so you should be very proud of what you have achieved."