NAHT comments on new exams appeals guidance for secondary schools

Official guidance on the appeals system for GCSE and A level grades in England in 2021 has just been released.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union, NAHT, said: “We are pleased to see the guidance on appeals finally published. School leaders and their staff are approaching the deadline for the submission of grades on 18th June following assessments, judgements and quality assurance. Now they need to consider this new information on appeals and take on additional work, double-checking their procedures and preparing copious amounts of documentation – to prepare for reviews and appeals in August.

“Back in January, we called on government to remove other burdens on school staff this term to provide the time and space needed for them to fulfil their responsibilities relating to the processes of awarding grades, and now for preparing for appeals. Little, if anything, has been done to provide additional support or resources, or to remove any other burdens. It is not too late for government to step in to do this.”