Head teachers from both private and state schools have welcomed the announcement about the review of A-level grades, saying they hope students will now get justice.

They are especially pleased that head teachers and teachers will be asked to sit in on re-grading sessions as observers.

A statement put out by head teachers' groups which raised the alarm said they were relieved that process outlined by Mike Tomlinson would "ensure justice for candidates who took examinations this summer".

The statement, from the Headmasters' Conference (HMC), the Girls' School Association (GSA) and Secondary Heads Association (SHA) said they welcomed "the honest and open recognition of the scale of the problem," which they say "fully vindicates the level of concern we registered some two weeks ago."

Confidence

The head teachers are pleased AS-level grades are being included in the review.

And the statement went on: "We strongly believe that the second stage of the Tomlinson Inquiry will restore confidence in next year's examinations."

The general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Doug McAvoy, said: "I welcome Mike Tomlinson's announcement. It is crystal clear that the vast majority of subjects where there were grading problems centred on one board.

"Mr Tomlinson has given himself a very tight deadline in which to restore students' confidence in their A-level results.

"That deadline is absolutely essential if we are to bring this fiasco to an end."

Gwen Evans of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers recognised that the agony for many students would continue.

"The lucky people are those who are already taking a gap year. it gives them time to sort out the problem."