Gavin Williamson’s memory lapse over his A-level grades

The Education Secretary claimed he cannot remember his exam results after 27 years.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (Aaron Chown/PA)
PA Archive
Gavin Cordon10 August 2021

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has claimed that he cannot remember the results of his A-levels.

As hundreds of thousands of students received their A-level grades, Mr Williamson vividly recalled the day 27 years ago when he received his results.

But pressed on what they actually were, he insisted that his memory failed him, although he acknowledged he did not get top marks.

I didn't get three A*s, it's fair to say

Gavin Williamson

“I didn’t get three A*s, it’s fair to say,” he said when pressed by LBC’s Nick Ferrari.

“I have forgotten, it is so long ago. It is 27 years ago.

“You probably can’t remember what was happening last weekend.”

Earlier, however, Mr Williamson recounted how he went to his sixth form college in Scarborough to pick up the envelope with his grades.

He recalled his “absolute delight” when he saw the results and realised ”all my dreams of doing social science at Bradford University” had been achieved.

“For a lad growing up in Scarborough, Bradford was the most exotic and exciting place in the whole world,” he said.

“It opened up the pathway to those next steps and I was absolutely delighted.”

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