The Papers: Calls to \'sack\' Williamson\, and PHE to be \'axed\'

Newspaper headlines: Calls to 'sack' Williamson, and PHE to be 'axed'

By BBC News Staff
The Observer front page 16 August 2020
Image caption Ahead of nearly five million GCSEs being awarded this week using a controversial model, the Observer reports that 97% - more than 4.6 million grades - will be assigned in England solely by the algorithm drawn up by exam regulator Ofqual. More than 280,000 students had A-level results downgraded on Thursday, prompting widespread anger among schools, colleges and pupils. Education experts fear that even more GCSE results could be downgraded than A-levels, the paper says. The government is expected to face new legal challenges over its algorithm within days, the paper adds.
The Sunday Times front page 16 August 2020
Image caption Teenagers and their parents are turning to the courts as the row over the way in which grades were awarded to A-level students in England intensifies, the Sunday Times reports. Several students and parents are now taking legal action after almost 40% of grades were downgraded. Pupils from large state schools and colleges were hit worst by the emergency marking system, the paper adds, with those from private schools benefiting most.
The Sunday Mirror front page 16 August 2020
Image caption "Sack our biggest failure," is the headline on the front page of the Sunday Mirror as "furious" MPs call for Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to resign in the wake of the A-levels "fiasco". Labour has now joined the Liberal Democrats in demanding Mr Williamson stands down. Two million grades recommended by teachers are expected to be slashed, the paper adds.
The Sunday Express front page 16 August 2020
Image caption Meanwhile, Mr Williamson has vowed to get children back to the classroom, saying it is "morally, socially and economically necessary" for them to return in September, the Sunday Express reports. On Monday, a new campaign will be launched in England to persuade parents it is safe for children to return next month. The leading image on the front page is of Prince Charles laying a wreath on the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan day.
The Sunday Telegraph front page 16 August 2020
Image caption The government plans to scrap Public Health England (PHE) and replace it with a new body early next month, the Sunday Telegraph reports. Health Secretary Matt Hancock will announce a merger of the pandemic response work of PHE with NHS Test and Trace into a new body called the National Institute for Health Protection, the paper adds. The new institute will have tens of thousands of staff and its model is based on Germany's independent agency the Robert Koch Institute.
The Mail on Sunday front page 16 August 2020
Image caption "Priti in racist French storm," is the headline on the front page of the Mail on Sunday. The home secretary, the paper reports, has sparked a "diplomatic row" by claiming in a private meeting with Tory MPs that migrants were crossing the Channel to escape prejudice in France. French politicians are said to be angry at the comments. The row comes after Europe's top judges condemned Paris for "degrading and inhumane" treatment of asylum seekers, the paper adds.
The Sunday People front page 16 August 2020
Image caption Boris Johnson is facing a "three year slump", the Sunday People reports, adding that the UK will not recover from the recession until 2023.
The Daily Star Sunday front page 16 August 2020
Image caption And veteran EastEnders actor Adam Woodyatt, who has played the character Ian Beale for all 35 years of the show's existence, is leaving the soap, according to the Daily Star Sunday. The news will leave fans wondering what his future in the drama will be, the paper adds.

The Observer says nearly five million GCSEs - 97% of the total - will be awarded this week solely on the basis of the controversial algorithm at the heart of the continuing row over A-level results.

According to analysis shared with the paper, teachers' rankings will be taken into consideration, but not the teacher-assessed grades submitted by schools and colleges.

An estimated 82% of A-level results are said to have been calculated by the Ofqual algorithm.

The Sunday Mirror forecasts a GCSE "disaster". It reckons that two million recommended grades will be slashed by what it calls a "farcical" computer model.

The Sunday Times predicts that what it describes as the "exam results chaos" will end in court battles.

It says the row about the fairness of the emergency marking system is intensifying after scores of pupils lost places at leading universities.

The paper speaks of an expected "tsunami" of complaints about GCSE results - with many young people likely to lose places in sixth forms and on apprenticeship schemes.

It says evidence is growing that high-flying pupils from large state schools, and sixth-form and further education colleges, have been hit hardest by the algorithm, with pupils at private schools benefiting most.

Image copyright PA Media
Image caption Students take part in a protest in Westminster, London, following the A-level results "fiasco"

The Sunday Express leads with an article by under-pressure Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

But on its front page, it glosses over the exams controversy, highlighting instead what it calls his "heartfelt" plea to get children back in their classrooms in time for the new term next month. The paper's headline is: "Children Must Come First".

In his article, Mr Williamson says a return to school is "morally, socially and economically necessary" - and the risks of it not happening are "too high to ignore".

The Mail on Sunday says Home Secretary Priti Patel has sparked a diplomatic row with France - by claiming that migrants are crossing the Channel to escape a "racist country".

She is said to have made the comment in a private conference call with Conservative MPs.

According to the Mail, Ms Patel also said migrants feared they would be tortured if they returned to France.

Government sources have strongly denied that the home secretary made the remarks reported. They said she had only been passing on what asylum seekers had been saying - and regarded claims of possible torture as nonsense being pushed by activist lawyers.

However, the Mail says the comments have infuriated French MPs. One is quoted as calling them "hateful" and another as saying: "Madame Patel is not a politician who does much thinking."

Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph reports that a specialist Royal Navy team has been deployed to support the Border Force in curbing Channel crossings.

Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Prince Charles lays a wreath at the VJ Day National Remembrance event

A number of front pages carry pictures of services marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day - the end of the Second World War.

The Sunday Times and Express both show the Prince of Wales laying a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The Observer pictures veterans and service men and women attending the same event.

Writing in the Telegraph, the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, calls for the "Forgotten Army" of the Far East to finally be remembered.

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