Limited scope for appeals over exam results

SCHOOLS IN England will be able to appeal their students’ GCSE and A-level results if they can show grades are lower than expected under specific circumstances.

England’s exams regulator has said schools and colleges can appeal if they can prove that historical data used to standardise grades is not a reliable indicator of this year’s results due to a change of circumstances in the wake of coronavirus.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “It is vital that students with exceptional circumstances are not held back by the way grades have been calculated – including those who are highly talented in schools that have not in the past had strong results, or where schools have undergone significant changes such as a new leadership team.

“This appeals process does this.

“Students will also have the opportunity to take exams this autumn if they are unhappy with their grades.”

Individual pupils will not be allowed to challenge grades themselves, Ofqual has confirmed, and schools and colleges will need to appeal against results on their behalf.

Concerns have been raised that the criteria for challenging grades may result in legal action against exam boards.

This summer’s exams were cancelled due to Covid-19. Instead, schools and colleges were asked to submit the grades they thought students would have received if they had sat the exams.

Exam boards have moderated the grades to ensure this year’s results are not significantly higher and the value of students’ grades are not undermined.

New guidance by Ofqual sets out how schools and colleges can appeal GCSE and A-level grades, which students are set to receive over the next fortnight.