Dd Biology course work downgraded by moderators (long)

[fimac1]

Dd has come home tonight telling us that her 'A' assessed coursework for biology (30% of total exam marks) has been downgraded by outside moderators along with all her classes course work bar one girl. The teacher (now on maternity leave) actually sent a letter home saying what a great piece of work this 'A' coursework was from dd. They are all fuming, esp as the other classes who had their work moderated did not have their marks changed.

The question is

What do we do - go to the head, and head of science? Demand a explanation of why the teacher got their grades so very wrong? This could effect my dd 6th form applications as she was predicted an A in biology and wanted to take it for A level.

Many thanks to anyone esp teachers out there that could advise us

I would speak to the head of science. How much has the coursework been downgraded?
Perhaps this teacher was inexperienced, or new to that particular syllabus.

It should have already been moderated by other teachers within the school, so not one individual's responsibility. Also, assuming all classes have done the same syllabus, grades should have been altered across the centre, not just that teaching group. Doesn't sound quite right. Ask head of biology/science for clarification.

Unfortunately, this does happen. As Lizzy says, though, it should have been across the whole school for this subject. I rememeber this happening to me for my Home Ec coursework when I was in 5th year. My friends and I were livid, and walked out of the lesson to seek out our head of year (got into lots of trouble for walking out)

I would contact the head of Science, and ask for clarification. AFAIK, though, the external moderators have the final say, and whilst it is absolutely your right to be really pissed off about it, it's unlikely to put the grades back up.

Remember an external marker is just as human as a teacher, and exam specifications are notoriously difficult to follow when marking coursework. I have been marking coursework in my A-level subject twice a year for 8 years, together with a partner teacher who has been marking over 20 years, and we still inexplicably got a batch marked down not long after we started a new specification. It's a pain for the students but it doesn't mean the teachers cocked up enormously - it could be that being just a couple of marks out triggered an automatic drop across the whole batch. Very unfair IMO.

thanks to all - teacher was unexperienced according to dd, young and straight of of teacher training - will speak to head of science and school head

It was one piece of coursework but worth 30% of total mark

By external moderators? I'm surprised it's gone off so early. Ours will go off in May.

There was a girl at school who this happened to, though in A levels. The whole schools group were dropped a grade by external examiner. This meant she lost her place to study medicine

However she really was an straight A student and appealed somehow and her coursework was sent to the external examiners who agreed it should be put back up to an A.

This meant she had an unexpected gap year though, so serious consequences.

If this was a new teacher, I think responsibility ultimately rests with their line manager/head of subject. There is no way that coursework should have been sent without internal moderation, and a new teacher really should be marking coursework in tandem with an experienced teacher. The mark schemes are far from straighforward to follow.

If there are moe than 4 marks difference in the decisions between the external moderator (who does not see all coursework) and the in school grading, then this is described as 'out of tolerance' and then the whole batch are downgraded. It has happened to my colleague and I before- it is easy to make a mistake.

What does not make sense in your post is that it is ONLY your daughters class that has been downgraded. This makes me think that this has been moderated INTERNALLY- please check on this. She may just need to improve it and then it will be moderated externally in May- so all is not lost.

I say this because exam boards ask for a random selection from the WHOLE year- every classes coursework would be entered together for cost reasons, so it is not possible for external moderation to affect just one class.

This should be checked on as I think she can probably improve it- especially as the teaching sounds like its 'inexperienced'. Must contact Head of science and clarify- and argue that she should be able to improve it back to a* as its the schools fault if their teacher is not fully supported. Speak to head (calmly etc) if necessary.

I have moderated coursework and this is too early for external moderation by the exam board. This usually happens in May.

Thanks we are in touch with the head of science who is investigating - dd is insistent that it has been externally moderated and therefore can't be changed but would be great if she was wrong! will update on any progress

What qualification and awarding body are we talking about?

most science coursework cannot be altered once it is submitted - it is not the same as some other subjects where redrafting is allowed. If she has handed in her work then that is it - so she may well be (is) mistaken on the external moderation, she is correct in saying she cannot redraft/imporve it.