Nearly 40 per cent of teacher-predicted A-Level grades have been revised downwards in England by an exam board moderation system described as unfair, as school leaders warned of the detrimental effect on pupils.
While there has been a 2.4 per cent rise in the awarding of Grade As, the head teachers' union said there was concern that this disguised the volatility in the results.
In England, 36 per cent of results were lowered by one grade, 3 per cent by two grades and 2 per cent were increased.
Geoff Barton, the head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said there was disgruntlement from senior teachers who felt that marks had been pulled down in an “utterly unfair and unfathomable” way.
“They worked very hard to provide accurate grades to the exam boards, carefully following all the guidance, and are dismayed that the statistical model then used to standardise these grades has had such a devastating impact,” he said.
The Covid-19 outbreak meant physical exams planned for the early summer were cancelled and A-Level grades instead have been based on an assessment by teachers. This was then moderated by the exam boards via a system that took into account the historical performance of the school, which critics said unfairly targeted pupils from poorer areas.
But Mr Baron said “that the statistical process has proved to be far too blunt an instrument and has created clear injustices”.
The government had sought to defuse the growing anger when – only two days before results were published – it announced that pupils unhappy with their moderated result would be able to challenge it based on their mock exams taken earlier this year or sit new exams in the autumn.
The Sixth Form Colleges Association said research it conducted found the government model to determine results was flawed and unreliable.
Government urged to take remedial action
Mr Barton said it was vital the government and exams regulator Ofqual reviewed the situation.
“It is not sufficient for the government to dismiss these concerns by saying that schools and colleges can attempt to battle their way through the appeals process, or that students who are not satisfied can enter the autumn exam series some seven to eight months after they finished their courses, and are no longer at the centre where they studied,” he said.
Universities also complained that they did not know how the appeals process would work, and Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said the last-minute changes caused “widespread chaos".
Much of the angst can be traced back to earlier this year when teachers were asked to predict their pupils’ grades as it became clear that physical exams would be impossible to sit.
At A-Level, the predicted grades were 12.5 per cent higher than in 2019, a figure that officials felt would undermine the credibility of the final results.
Scotland was forced to reverse its downgraded results for its national qualifications on Tuesday after dismay and protests sparked by an exam board moderation process that led to the lowering of grades for 75,000 young people.
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20366hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E550Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESix-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh360%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
·
Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
