Different A Level results according to which school one goes to

[BecksPen]

We were happy for her daughter when she received her A*AA on Results Day as it was fairly in line with what she was expecting though all going well she could have received 2 A stars as predicted. That was until we heard that her peers from other schools have come away with unexpected A stars post U turn - 2 or 3. This makes me suspect that some schools really did submit more generous CAGs than others. Does anybody feel that their school has erred on the side of caution on the CAG front. How many people feel frustrated by this over inflation of A level results?

The same had happened with GCSEs

*has

This makes me suspect that some schools really did submit more generous CAGs than others.

Er, are you really surprised by this?

Agree same happens with GCSES. The students at DDs school got results that were pretty much in-line with expectations, other schools in the area reported record grades.

happened not happens

Of course some schools have. Our nearest private school has announced “the best results in a generation”. No shit, they chose them themselves 😂

I totally agree. I think my DC school assessed grades in accordance with the set rules and students got grades that were roughly in line with or below their predictions. Other schools have just gone to town with A/A* handed out freely. And, who can blame them really? I wish my DC school had done the same.

This article is interesting, it's written by a teacher who feels she was forced to downgrade results: inews.co.uk/opinion/gcse-a-level-results-2020-downgrade-students-algorithm-quit-teaching-582789

Won't the students with artificially inflated grades come a cropper when they start university/A levels, and find the courses much harder than they thought?

Everybody is going to find the new academic year difficult. Even if you got AAA but have not touched a book since March. The grades this year are nothing less than imaginary*

@Ginfordinner I’ve told DD that she has to try to hit the ground running as her school is part of a consortium.
All the other schools in the consortium have stated that they have record results this year and their biggest sixth forms ever. I imagine that the first few weeks or so is going to involve weeding out the weaker students (mostly from the other schools in the consortium) who maybe wouldn’t have got the results they had had they sat the exams.

I find it frustrating that when she - and peers who feel they are in the same boat - apply to jobs their grades on their CVs will pale in comparison which just doesn't seem fair. Yet there is nothing that can be done... she feels let down by her teacher in one specific subject yet they were just trying to do their job honestly... such a mess

Imagine though a candidate who was capable of getting four As. In normal times they might have fluffed a couple of questions and ends up with AAAA but if the school was asked what they were likely to get they might well predict four As as there’s no way of telling where they’d have a good or a bad day. Ergo slight grade inflation which you can’t really mitigate because the candidate might well have not fluffed anything and got four A*s...

@LadyCatStark My daughter's school is a private school and I feel their staff have very much erred on the side of caution. I don't think it's a private/state school issue ... all will be revealed when schools publish their results

BecksPen school results aren't necessarily going to be published this year. They won't be published officially - that was always part of the deal.

@universallychallenged I agree completely, our school stuck to the rules and slotted everyone into previous framework that just isn’t right. They’re not the same kids! Particularly seemed harsh for those that planned to put the work in post mocks like my DS, he passed all 9 but for sure Could have got higher grades in 2 of them. It seems so unfair that some schools chose to just go for it with handing out high grades.

I don’t believe they can publish the grades without a massive outcry. DD’s head sent a veiled message about comparing schools, implying that the neighbouring “not very good” school has had amazing results....

In fact I think it would be very much shooting themselves in the foot if a school trumpeted about their extraordinarily talented pupils and then the next year...

I read about a handful of schools who issued all A/A* or all 9 grades to all their students. I guess they thought the grades would be lowered so why not chance it. Those grades now stand against students who have more honestly awarded grades, which will be unlikely to be all top grades.

How can this possibly be fair?

I feel my son has been affected by this.

He attends a selective grammar school and achieved A in English in Year 12 exams, A in Year 13 interim report, produced coursework (which accounted for 25% of final grade) which teacher said was on target to be A*. This obviously never got submitted.

He then achieved A in January mock. With six months to go until the final exam with an intense revision period ahead we think school could/should have given him a CAG of A*.

They gave A and it’s cost him a place to study Law at a top university. We think the school were unduly harsh to fit in with previous years’ grade distributions and the ranking at a grammar school was always going to be tough and maybe a little arbitrary.

There is absolutely no way to appeal unless you can prove bias/discrimination which in any case one might not wish to do as you’re reliant on the school for prediction/Ucas reference for any reapplication.

I’m sure if he attended another school, he would have been awarded A*.

@LadyCatStark yep I know a grade 3/4 student, who I’ve know all her live come out with all 7 - 9 she thinks it’s hilarious (private school) she will stand out over those who have received honest grades.

@rbsk12 my ds's story exactly... so frustrating and one can't help but feel let down by the school

@FAQs there are also many people from state schools who have had over inflated grades

If he’d got his firm with the dropped grade it would have been fine but as it is he’s now revising like mad for the Autumn exam to try and secure A*. He will have to take a gap year too and reapply in December once the results are out. Such a mess and so stressful. I’m appalled that there’s no route to appeal!

Email your MP and ask them to press the government to provide an appeals route. I have.

Hi thanks. I am planning on doing that today. I think these kids are in the minority now and basically forgotten about as they’ve appeased the masses.

My son also attends a selective grammar and has been equally affected.
He has worked really hard and would almost certainly have got higher grades in an exam. At another school he would have been awarded those higher grades.
The majority have now got what they want so the whole A level fiasco is being brushed under the carpet.

Schools were told two objectives : to give pupils what they would have got in an exam and to ensure grades were in line with previous years. However well over half of schools ignored the latter. Our school didn't. They did the right thing but as a consequence they have now completely disadvantaged their pupils. I feel for them in all of this too.

I have emailed our MP but am not getting very far; the more of us that do this the better!