Our Head is very clear in this. The number of appeals is directly linked to the inconsistency and in accuracy in marking. " English marking at all levels - GCSE, AS and A2 - is serially problematic, and this year the Trinity Group of schools, to which we belong, has reported significant concern at inconsistencies in the English marking across most Boards, whether inland or international. Although clarity of argument, reference to the text, paragraphing and proper use of grammar offer good evidence of levels of achievement, there is a degree of subjectivity in both English Literature and Language papers, as in many other subjects. Examinations are taken by so many students that Examination Boards often employ university graduates to do their marking. As a result, over the years, mark schemes have become more formulaic to give inexperienced markers (who have often never taught themselves) clear reference points. This has reinforced a tick-box approach which can reward the more pedestrian and safe responses over those which show greater flair and originality. This means that results can appear to be inconsistent, which is more dispiriting than the uniform shift in grade boundaries reported this year. We have also come to recognise that, sadly, Examination Board scrutiny of the whole process is often a lot less careful than you might expect with mistakes occurring with relative regularity. One of our unit grades in AS English Literature this year, for example, has risen from an E to an A grade and another from a D to an A."
I come from a generation where appeals were unheard of and I was reluctant to press for them but with both my DDs appeals have uncovered silly errors, ones RMT mark went up 10 UMS marks, there is no subjectivity about how you put a screw in a wall!! I was very pleased to see when my DD moved there for sixth form that they had a room reserved for pupils who were unhappy with their marks to go and consult with a teacher and if they want, to send for the script to determine whether they should appeal. At her previous school there was a culture of denial and parents had to go and put pressure on when something seemed amiss. I also have a friend with a DD at a well known boarding school who was only told that her mark made no sense after term started and it was too late to do anything, being overseas it had not occurred to the parent that you could appeal, let alone that it has become commonplace. I think this now ill advised reluctance to appeal is still quite common.
I listened to the OFQUAL woman on Radio 4 this morning and it made my blood boil. Especially the bit about "all the markers are teachers and they care about every pupil". Erm no, they use our postgrads to mark, some are not even UK nationals, and though English speaking there are significant cultural differences in how Americans will approach a script, and they are paid for just 20 minutes per A level question........
These marks can make a huge difference to a pupils future and OFQUALs disingenuous attempt to shift the blame is shameful.