AIBU to feel uneasy that GCSE remarks depend on ability to pay

[CassandraWebb]

My DC is only doing one GCSE this year, a year early, but as I was looking through the information to check timings etc I noticed an email about the "remark" service and the costs

We could afford to pay if needed, but I do a lot of work with people who are in financially difficult situations.

I do fully understand there's a cost to remarking. But it just makes me feel really uncomfortable that clearly the costs might mean some people just don't have that option.

Is there help for people who can't afford to pay? There's no mention of it in the email.

Absolutely. It might also go down. But schools are generally more willing to cover the cost when "only" a mark or 2 extra needs to be found - i mean, taking the risk and the grades improve is better for them too.
We had a set of GCSE results in my house yesterday - we have 2 subjects within 2 marks of the grade boundary that are automatically being sent for remark. We have others that were within 5 or 6 marks that aren't, because staff felt it wasn't worth the cost (to school or us).

The school decided. They also will be honest if they don't feel a remark is worth it.

That’s why it’s a lottery - because private schools proactively help, some state schools help, and some choose to have a policy of deliberately doing nothing. So it’s a lottery as to whether you get the help you need to work out the scores/marking/weighting/paper codes etc or not.

If you think the grade was unfair, I would speak to the school. They will tell you how many marks of the next grade you were. Likely if it is only a few marks they will request a copy of the paper. If I remember correctly, there is usually a small fee for that but the school may cover the cost as is in their interest to get the best grades for their students. If they think there is any point in requesting a remark, they will tell you. There is a fee for that also but if your grade is increased as a result, you get the fee back. At least this is what happened when my daughter sat her GCSES - admittedly a couple of years ago now. Good luck!

It's not remarked. The reviewer checks that the mark scheme was applied correctly. An old style remark started from scratch, so they aren't quite the same thing.

The subject/board you mark for obviously isn't the same as mine as a remark is exactly that. I mark the paper and if my mark is different to the first markers I have to fill in a box of how I've come to the mark I've awarded

Obviously I dont know what the grade boundaries are and I've given both higher and lower marks but no idea if the candidates grade was changed

It's because so many students are demanding that papers that have been marked correctly get remarked.

Although I have noticed that some schools are now charging a fee, you can request copies of papers free from the Exam Board and your child's teacher would probably examine the marks for you for free too. Don't bother with the Clerical Check.

It's the next step of asking for a remark or appealing marks that cost money. And yes, it does seem that this cost falls on the parent. I would hope that if a student had genuine hardship and qualified for Pupil Premium that the school would use that to pay the costs of they felt it was justified.

It’s not a remark, it’s a marking review. The reviewer decides if the mark is reasonable. The school will be if there are concerns about marking.

I think the difference is when I did mine you got a grade but not the mark so had no idea how close you were to the grade above or below. Only worth getting a remark if you are a mark or two off

When i did my GCSE, in the late 90s, my remark was paid for by the school, it was only 1 paper ( Science) and i went up a grade. I can't remember them seeking consent from my parents, they just informed me it went for a remark.

We are having two papers from one subject remarked, at a cost of £110. Our school have said they will reimburse us for that cost although I don’t know when.
but it was their idea to get the two papers remarked. He was 3 away from the next grade boundary.