The approach we have developed with exam boards and
assessment experts for awarding GCSEs, AS and A levels
is the fairest way of giving students an opportunity to
move on in the unprecedented circumstances this year,
with grades which carry value.
Every grade students receive tomorrow has been based on
teachers’ judgements – either wholly, or in combination
with the statistics. For example, where adjustments
were needed, students were moved up or down according
to the centres’ views as to which students were closest
to the grade boundary.
The vast majority of the grades students receive will
be the same as, or within one grade of, their centre’s
grade. Adjustments were only made where necessary to
bring consistency to the standards between schools and
colleges. However, that moderation was essential to
create a level playing for students.
The system in place will give students the best
estimate of the grade they would have achieved if exams
had gone ahead and ensures they are not held back in
their lives, despite the cancellation of exams.
However, we recognise that any process for calculating
grades may produce results that need to be reviewed,
which is why we have put in place an appeals process.
We believe this process is the fairest for all students
in the circumstances.
However, we understand why the government has wanted to
provide some additional assurance for students, by
confirming that evidence from valid mock exams can be
considered as part of an appeal. We are working
urgently to operationalise this as fairly as possible
and to determine what standards of evidence will be
required for the appeal. We will provide more detail
early next week.
We will continue to do everything possible to ensure
students achieve grades that are as fair as possible in
the circumstances this summer.
