Exams update for students and parents 24^th August 2020

This exam season has been an extraordinary one. We have summarized where we are now below. There are a variety of links to forms and documents below. The updated FAQs document (frequently asked questions) answers most of the questions you might ask.

What has changed?

• Originally, your teachers put together a set of predicted grades that we moderated as a school to produce your centre assessment grades (CAGs). We gave these grades to the exam regulator, Ofqual
• Ofqual put these through an algorithm to create moderated grades. Often the grades created by the algorithm were lower than the CAGs predicted by us. These are the results AS-level and A-level students were given on Thursday 13th August
• Now, both AS/A-level students and GCSE students have received the original CAGs we predicted for you – unless the moderated grades from Ofqual are higher
• Your results won’t go down as a result of this change

Can we still get our results reviewed and appeal?

• You can ask us to review whether we made an administrative error when submitting information to the exam board or if the board made an error once we submitted your CAGs. If we do find an error, we can ask the exam board to correct it.
• There is a downloadable form below if you wish to do this. It must be returned to [email protected]  by 9^th September so we can review the results we submitted and answer any queries you might have.
• The school will make an appeal on your behalf if we find an error – individual pupils or parents cannot make appeals themselves.
• You won’t be able to appeal based on your mock grade (this was part of the “triple lock” system which was announced before this change – this is no longer in place)
• You can’t make an appeal against your CAG, for example, if you don't feel it matches your ability
• You can make a complaint about bias, discrimination, malpractice or maladministration to us and/or the exam board. Read the guidance on page 5 of Ofqual Update 20th August. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have a concern about this.

What about Autumn Exams?

• You will still have the opportunity to sit exams in autumn 2020 if we enter you for them. You should talk to your subject teacher or Director of Learning to discuss this as soon as possible.
• Find out more about autumn exams at the JCQ exams website. Please note the deadlines are 4^th September for A level entries and 18^th September for subjects other than GCSE maths and English.

What about vocational and technical qualifications?

Many grades for vocational and technical qualifications are not affected, as they were not calculated using the kind of algorithm used for GCSEs and A-levels. However:

• Pearson is regrading BTECs
• OCR is regrading Cambridge Technicals and Cambridge Nationals
• This is why some of you did not receive your results on Thursday 20^th August
• We do not know for sure when you will get your results, but we will send these to you as soon practically possible after we receive them
• Your results won’t go down as a result of this change