Schools given additional grounds for appeal at GCSE and A-level
Ofqual has announced that schools in England will “have a second chance to challenge GCSE, AS, A level and project results if they have concerns about marking errors”.
The announcement on Wednesday (28 June) adds to schools’ existing right to appeal results on the grounds that an exam board hasn’t followed its own procedures.
The changes will be brought in for AS and A level and project qualifications this summer. This will then be extended to GCSE English language, English literature and Maths in 2018, and to all remaining GCSEs from 2019.
Schools will be able to appeal if they have concerns about marking or moderation errors. This builds on a pilot exercise last summer involving geography, religious studies and physics A levels.
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT, said:
“Should mistakes occur then those affected rightly expect them to be put right swiftly and with the minimum of fuss.
“We welcome Ofqual revisiting this issue and their announcement to strengthen appeal arrangements. It is critical that these changes are widely publicised so that no mistake goes unchallenged, irrespective of background or circumstance of the pupils impacted – the importance of making the grade on future life choices is too great to leave to chance.”