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Aug 2020

Last Updated: 14/08/2020

Education

More Harrogate district schools set to appeal A level grades

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 14 Aug, 2020

Colleges and sixth forms in Harrogate and Knaresborough have released data showing a high number of grades were altered after they were sent to be standardised.

Students will be spaced out to allow for appropriate distancing between staff and pupils.

More Harrogate district schools and colleges have released data showing the a large number of A-level grades have been adjusted under the new standardisation process.

The figures paint a clearer picture of the scale of the issue.

Each congratulated students for their resilience during this unprecedented school term but expressed disappointment with the grading system.

St Aidan's & St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form had more than 500 results adjusted after being sent to Ofqual, amounting to 38% of the total number of grades. The school said:

"Many students have asked about the possibility of appealing using their mock exam grades following the government’s last minute announcement this week. Clearly we have to wait for clarification of this process before we can offer guidance for specific individuals. We are truly proud of the students’ achievements and we are confident that they will move on to rewarding careers"

Harrogate Ladies' College, it said 33% of its grades were reduced with a smaller number of grades going up.

It was a very different results day for students this year with students receiving their A-level grades online.

WATCH as Harrogate's A-level students describe their emotions as they waited for their results.

King James's Sixth Form in Knaresborough saw 80% of its students have at least one grade changed. Head teacher Carl Sugden said:

"Whilst the vast majority of students have what they need for the next stage of their education there are some clear cases of the grades not reflecting the true potential of students and that has also negatively impacted on some individuals' university entry. We are now waiting to see what right to appeal we will have for these students."

Harrogate Grammar School reported yesterday that 35% of grades were changed after being sent to Ofqual.

Rossett School are planning to release this data at a later date and said they were "extremely proud" of each of its students. Helen Woodcock, headteacher, said:

"Whilst the school celebrated the achievements of all students, they were particularly disappointed in the disparities thrown up by the national moderation process. As many Rossett students have had their places confirmed today, others have been affected by national moderation, outside of the school’s control, and will be the subject of robust appeals. Along with other schools both locally and nationally, we have concerns about the methodology used to calculate the grades this year and the ‘triple-lock’ appeals process.”

The majority of those changed achieved a grade lower than the school anticipated.

The Stray Ferret put requests in to other schools in the district who are yet to publicise the data.

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More Harrogate district schools set to appeal A level grades

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