The U-turn decision to use teacher estimates instead of a controversial algorithm has been praised by Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Vale Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration Lis Burnett said:

"It was abundantly clear that a change was needed to how grades were awarded and I am glad that [Welsh Minister for Education Kirsty Williams] has recognised this."

An algorithm used to determine results had been widely criticised, seeing grades drop 42% below teacher predictions across Wales.

Although schools across the Vale actually fared well under the algorithm, Cllr Burnett supports the government's U-turn.

"We were extremely proud in the Vale to receive our best ever A Level and AS Level results last week.

"However, this will have meant nothing to young people who at the same time saw their hopes for the future evaporate in the midst of a flawed system.

"The downgrading of teachers' estimated grades was arbitrary, confused, and unfair. At some point decision makers appear to have lost sight of those who should be at the heart of our education system; the pupils. Thankfully this wrong has been put right."

But some have criticised the U-turn for hastiness. Chief of the the exam board WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee), Ian Morgan, said:

"To some extent I probably am [disappointed], I think there's a huge amount of rigour that's gone into the standardisation process.

"I'm not here to try and question the effort teachers have put in, these were a complex set of circumstances and teachers have worked diligently, I'm sure, to provide that information to us.

"I think that information is just part of a wider set of data that we've used. While it is a key element of what we've done, it's only part of the process that's been undertaken."