Further to the letter we sent to parents/carers in March 2021, please see below for a reminder of the process that has taken place this year to award GCSE grades.
This is as a result of Covid-19 Pandemic, where the UK Government decided that this year’s GCSE, BTEC and Vocational examinations could not go ahead as planned and, in Jersey all external examinations were cancelled.
The DfE and Ofqual have said that students can get their grades and move onto their next stage of education, employment or training and that these grades are widely understood and respected.
How grades have been determined:
- Teachers have assessed the standard at which students are performing, based only on what has been taught.
- Teacher judgements were based on a range of evidence.
- Teachers were supported to arrive at grades using exam board guidance and exemplars.
- Students were advised of which types of evidence used to assess them, and have signed their own declarations for each subject to confirm this.
- They will not be told the grade in advance of results day.
The evidence base could include a range of pieces of evidence and this is outlined in our Centre Policy
How schools and the exam boards will ensure the grades are fair:
- Grainville School has internal quality assurance systems (including moderation) and checking of grades before they are submitted.
- This internal quality assurance will also include consideration of our school’s profile of results in previous years as a guide to help check that judgements aren’t unduly harsh or lenient.
- Exam boards will review all schools’ quality assurance processes before grades are submitted.
- Once grades are submitted, the exam board will conduct various checks to make sure grades submitted are fair and consistent. This will include sampling of student evidence.
- If there are concerns with the grades submitted, the exam board will work with the school to address this before results day. (Exam boards will not ‘remark’ the work).
- Further information on this can be found in our centre policy.
Appeals:
- Students will have the right to appeal if they are concerned about their grade.
- Grades will not be changed by exam boards if the evidence provided shows the grade is a ‘reasonable’ assessment.
OFQUAL have produced a guide to the process for students – “Guide to awarding in summer 2021”
We will provide further information on appeals here before the GCSE Results day on Thursday 12th August 2021.
Advice to students (14th July 2021)
- If you have any queries with your GCSE results on results day, please complete a results query form and see Mrs Morris or Mrs Falle in the first instance.
-
Please read the attached document “JCQ Important information for student” which is attached below.
What may happen to your grade during the centre review and appeals process?
If you request a centre review or an awarding organisation appeal there are three possible outcomes:
- Your original grade is lowered, so your final grade will be lower than the original grade you received.
- Your original grade is confirmed, so there is no change to your grade.
- Your original grade is raised, so your final grade will be higher than the original grade you received.
Once a finding has been made you cannot withdraw your request for a centre review or appeal. If your grade has been lowered, you will not be able to revert back to the original grade you received on results day.
- Should you wish to appeal your grade, the first stage is a Centre Review. Please complete the Stage 1 Appeals form attached below, and email to appeals@grainville.sch.je by 3rd September 2021.
- Once you have received the outcome of your Centre Review, you may wish to request an Awarding Organisation Appeal. Please complete the Stage 2 Appeals form and email to appeals@grainville.sch.je by 17th September 2021.