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Original poster

Ofsted - Grade inflation The Times

51 replies

littlebilliie · 06/02/2022 10:50

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/private-schools-gamed-covid-rules-to-give-their-pupils-more-top-a-levels-6z0z6w9r5

I read this last night and it's devalued the grades for those that deserved them and changed the outlook for those in state education.

Ofsted should review this.

OP posts:
BoofTheFloof · 06/02/2022 22:42

I've just searched for a thread on this and I'm surprised this is the only one. It's shocking if private schools have inflated grades so significantly. I do know of 2 friends whose DDs go to one of the schools mentioned. One is significantly more academic than the other but both got mainly 9s. It caused some discomfort at the time. Mum of less academically inclined child felt awkward, mum of very clever child was pretty pissed off. I thought they were probably an extreme case but reading the paper it seems like they weren't.
How can you justify increasing top grades from 30ish percent to 80-90%?

MargaretThursday · 06/02/2022 22:54

It was obvious this would have happened when they agreed to give teacher grades.
Not all private schools will have overinflated, and not all state will have under estimated, but on average it was obvious it would happen.

People were hailing it at the time as a great triumph but it clearly was only a triumph for some.
Those whose schools were honest have to battle against others with inflated grades and the assumption that they themselves have inflated grades.

One local private school gave everyone 9s across the board. They don't generally expect many under 4 grades, but they have a normal distribution in 4-9 grades.

It's not been brilliant for those kids either. About 15-20% that I know of have redone the year 12 after picking a levels that they didn't expect to be allowed to do, but suddenly could. (no 6th form so they had to change school) Then when they started the course they struggled massively.

PugInTheHouse · 06/02/2022 22:57

I am certain grades were inflated at my DSs school. Lots if children getting 7,8,9 who no way would have achieved that in previous years. If I'm honest though there is way less impact on DCs getting more 9s than on those who were inflated from 3s to 4s. Colleges are struggling massively this year.

Hollyhead · 06/02/2022 22:58

The cancelling of exams was the most unnecessary action of the pandemic with such poor consequences for young people.

RampantIvy · 06/02/2022 23:01

These pupils with inflated grades will come unstuck at university because I don't think degree courses are being dumbed down.

BoofTheFloof · 06/02/2022 23:03

@Hollyhead

The cancelling of exams was the most unnecessary action of the pandemic with such poor consequences for young people.
I agree. There were so many ways they could have managed it with a bit of careful planning.
BoofTheFloof · 06/02/2022 23:06

@RampantIvy

These pupils with inflated grades will come unstuck at university because I don't think degree courses are being dumbed down.
They might struggle a bit but universities aren't in the business (and let's not forget they are businesses now first and foremost) of failing or penalising large numbers of their cohort. Once they're there then they'd have to mess up pretty spectacularly to not do ok.
Rummikub · 06/02/2022 23:08

My dd did well in her A levels. She worked hard for them and deserved to get her As. It’s annoying to think that her grades will be viewed as inflated when they were not.

FAQs · 06/02/2022 23:11

It happened with GCSE also, a friends daughter went from a 3 in Maths for the past few years and was awarded a 9, the school thought from the original guidance that they would be levelled out from previous years, so upped their grades, it then changed to teacher grades and the whole consort received over inflated grades.

FAQs · 06/02/2022 23:12

*Im only talking of one school I know of obviously.

MsFogi · 06/02/2022 23:16

I'm not surprised at all - one of the DCs did a GCSE early last year. His tutor (head of the subject at local private) said he would get a 9 in their school whereas DC's state school stuck to the 'we never predict or give 9s'. I think state school students have been really let down.

MaddieElla · 06/02/2022 23:16

It's quite annoying when grades were inflated across the board yet there are anomalies such as my DDs school who were much more strict and she suffered the consequences of that.

I rue the day they made the decision to cancel exams.

spongedog · 06/02/2022 23:31

@Rummikub

My dd did well in her A levels. She worked hard for them and deserved to get her As. It’s annoying to think that her grades will be viewed as inflated when they were not.
All grades over the last 2 years were inflated by a significant %. (I work in education as a data manager). Feel more sorry for those who came before and will come after whose grades are not over-inflated by perhaps as much as 20%. I truly wish they could mark those grades as COVID grades so in 20 years time when candidates are asked to give GCSE/A level grades it is clear to see who had real grades and who had over-inflated. You know - level playing field etc.
spongedog · 06/02/2022 23:34

@PugInTheHouse

I am certain grades were inflated at my DSs school. Lots if children getting 7,8,9 who no way would have achieved that in previous years. If I'm honest though there is way less impact on DCs getting more 9s than on those who were inflated from 3s to 4s. Colleges are struggling massively this year.
I partly agree with you on those lower grades, but in what way are colleges particularly struggling? Is it with Level 2 course in a practical subject where the student is OK practically but not with the maths/english? Or is it that the college has pushed those students on to a Level 3 that they are not ready for academically?
Snoopsnoggysnog · 06/02/2022 23:42

I agree this is a scandal. I’m currently looking at senior schools and looking at results for comparison - I’ve been ignoring results post 2019 as they’re now meaningless

gleegeek · 06/02/2022 23:47

Dd's college didn't inflate grades, infact they were really tough on them. Lots missed university places as a result. Dd was fortunate to get into her first choice uni despite not quite achieving her offer grades and has put a-levels behind her but I'm still cross on her behalf! Angry

Rummikub · 06/02/2022 23:50

@spongedog

They were in line with her predicted grades. And with her GCSE grades that she sat exams for.

This is why it’s annoying that she didn’t get chance to prove herself as others will view her grades as not within her capability.

Tippexy · 06/02/2022 23:58

@MsFogi

I'm not surprised at all - one of the DCs did a GCSE early last year. His tutor (head of the subject at local private) said he would get a 9 in their school whereas DC's state school stuck to the 'we never predict or give 9s'. I think state school students have been really let down.
Exactly, it’s poverty of aspiration.

The fault lies with the state schools.

Thewindwhispers · 07/02/2022 00:10

It’s a while back but I got a string of A*s and a few As at GCSE. My teachers predicted me all Bs and Cs. State schools often aren’t aspirational for their pupils. 😭

Anyway this was clearly a massive cock up by Gavin Williamson who was appointed because of personal loyalty to BJ not competence. Just another error by the worst government Britain ever had in modern times.

Private school teachers literally work for the children’s parents. State school teachers work for the State. What did they think was going to happen when they said teachers could choose grades?

noblegiraffe · 07/02/2022 00:16

The fault lies with the state schools.

For not sufficiently gaming the system?

I've no idea why the Times is digging up this story again now, it was heavily reported at the time. What's their agenda? Are they worried exams are going to be cancelled again??

HeddaGarbled · 07/02/2022 00:40

*Exactly, it’s poverty of aspiration.

The fault lies with the state schools*

And yet my teacher friends in state schools and FE colleges all report that their assessed grades were reduced by external moderators, despite trying to be honest and professional in the first place.

When you look at the stratospheric improvements in results at the schools highlighted in the report, you surely can’t pretend that this was fair.

FurryAntiWaxer · 07/02/2022 01:05

You would almost think there were sound reasons why external examinations are used.

Otherwise it's like an ATM that dispenses unlimited amounts of cash without deducting it from your account balance. I mean, some people will be cautious, some will be honest, others will be overnight millionaires.
Galling for DC who worked hard for good-ish results.

Hercisback · 07/02/2022 06:13

The fault lies with the state schools

For being honest? For assessing students fairly and not awarding 9s across the board?

Clearly not all independent schools did this, and the smaller size of independents could mean more year on year changes than a bigger state cohort.

FrippEnos · 07/02/2022 06:40

Tippexy

The fault lies with the state schools.

Yet if the state schools had gamed the system to this extent the media and detractors would have been all over them.

MrsHamlet · 07/02/2022 07:21

Poverty of aspiration?
Nonsense. We had to have evidence last summer for the grades awarded. We couldn't say "Bob's a good lad; give him a 9" when all the evidence said 5.
CAGS were a whole different shit show - that's where the real problems occurred. I have several y13 students now who apparently got grade 9 GCSE but who simply cannot cope. Their schools made themselves look great but let those kids down badly.