Ofqual boss’s algorithm malfunction

Gavin Williamson has taken a lot of stick for the A-level exams debacle, but Mr Steerpike thinks we should perhaps look to Roger Taylor, the chair of Ofqual, who also happens to be head of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.

Not many people think that using an algorithm to decide exam results was the best option, but it becomes even more questionable when you realise that Taylor led a study last year, warning of algorithms propensity to ‘make decisions which reinforce pre-existing social inequalities’.

The study states: ‘concerns are growing that without proper oversight, algorithms risk entrenching and potentially worsening bias.’

Unfortunately, concerns hadn’t grown enough to prevent Taylor and Ofqual from using an algorithm which downgraded students based on their school’s past academic performance. Just a slight reinforcement of ‘pre-existing social inequalities’…

Mr Steerpike is wondering why Taylor hasn’t been more sympathetic to the plight of this year’s cohort, considering his admission