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Original poster

Is there a legal way to appeal on A-level art project grades?

42 replies

Leo12345 · 02/02/2017 10:53

Hello!
My daughter is in year 13 and she does art A-level.
She applied to UCL, Sheffield and Edinburgh universities for architecture, already got offer in the latter, waiting for UCL.
In the interviews they were very much impressed of her art portfolio.
But we have a 'silent' conflict with my daughter's art teacher.
I will not give here too many details, but just to mention: the teacher's daughter applied to UCL and Edinburgh last year and failed, and this can be the reason.
In any case the A-level mark is 40% final exam and 60% the mark of art projects during the year.
My daughter invests a lot in art, we have opinions of professionals that her art work is a very high lever, the head of art department in the school says that my daughter deserves A*, but the art teacher keeps marking her projects B and C.
Are there any legal means how we can influence the teacher?
Can we have my daughter's art projects marked independently?
This is really important, as the career of my daughter depends on the grade she gets for her final art project. If she gets B or C in art A-level, she will miss UCL, Edinburgh etc.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 02/02/2017 10:55

Ask the school for your DD's marks to be moderated.

LIZS · 02/02/2017 10:57

I would be expressing concerns to the head of department in the first instance. Work should be internally and externally moderated to ensure consistency of marking and fairness.

AlexanderHamilton · 02/02/2017 10:57

Are the projects not internally or externally moderated?

The exam board can request wirk for moderation & will adjust accordingly. I would say your first port of call would be to raise the matter informally with the head of art, & if you get nowhere put in a formal complaint to the head teacher.

Clavinova · 02/02/2017 11:48

Contact the exam officer at the school in writing and ask for the school's procedure for internally assessed coursework plus the school's appeal procedure/grounds for appeal.

Clavinova · 02/02/2017 11:49

sorry, meant ask for the exam board's grounds for appeal for internally assessed coursework - there will be guidelines.

Newtssuitcase · 02/02/2017 11:53

You need a meeting with the head of department surely?

catslife · 02/02/2017 14:54

the head of art department in the school says that my daughter deserves A, but the art teacher keeps marking her projects B and C.*
Could it perhaps be the case that the Head of Art is being a bit too generous and the teacher a bit too strict and the approx grade is A? At this stage any grade given for coursework is very provisional as no-one knows exactly where the grade boundaries will be, these vary annually.
It depends on how many pupils the sixth form are entered for Art A level but the exam board does externally moderate coursework. For Art subjects the examiner usually comes to the sixth form to view the portfolios. This may be all of them if only a small number of candidates but a sample for a larger number. In many centres the work may be moderated internally as well e.g. by Head of Department or another teacher.
Teachers have to go on courses about how to assess coursework. The final marks may be moved up (or down) by the external moderator if needed.

catslife · 02/02/2017 17:13

I think that schools can ask for re-moderation by the exam board if results for a whole class are below their expected grades. But am not sure if this can be done for just one candidate (I suspect not as it could affect other pupil's grades).
I will not give here too many details, but just to mention: the teacher's daughter applied to UCL and Edinburgh last year and failed, and this can be the reason.
This shouldn't be relevant to your daughter in anyway.

user1484226561 · 02/02/2017 18:00

The art teacher's daughter has nothing to do with this. If you think it does, then you are likely to be totally wrong about that,and if you are so wrong about that, you are likely to be wrong about other aspects of this story too.

I don't think you are in a "silent" conflict with the art teacher, I just think you are disappointed with her grades.

Professional opinions mean very little, it is how she fares against the criteria that the exam boards sets out that matters.

Art teacher deliberately marking her down through jealously??? This is a non issue. Its not happening, and if it were, it would be picked up by internal moderation, and if the internal moderation was inadequate,that would be picked up by the exam board.

Your real question is what can I do about my DDs disappointing art grades.

the answer is speak to the teacher and ask for constructive feedback (DD, not you, obviously). And contact the head of art and ask them to confirm they agree with the marks.

(politely, without spouting off about the art teacher's daughter!!! - cos that makes you sound bonkers)

PotteringAlong · 02/02/2017 18:04

As a teacher her appraisal, pay, career are based on getting the best grades she can. No way is she marking your daughter down 3 grades because she's annoyed she got into the uni her own daughter didn't.

user1484226561 · 02/02/2017 18:16

Are there any legal means how we can influence the teacher?

no of course not.

you are being ridiculous.

Any attempt to influence the teacher is likely to result in your daughter being disqualified from A levels, and she may have her GCSEs taken away from her too.

EggnogChai · 02/02/2017 18:56

I think your crazy if you believe the art teacher is jealous of your daughters uni offers

anyname123 · 02/02/2017 19:04

I call early April fools, surely no one is this bonkers?!?!

ChocoChou · 02/02/2017 19:04

Just to echo a PP there is no way the art teacher will mark your daughter down... the teacher needs her students to get the very best marks as it's a reflection on her. To suggest she's marking it down due to jealousy is absolutely absurd.
There will be criteria her work has to be marked against and maybe she is creating great art that just isn't hitting the specific criteria.
Also, who are these art professionals giving their opinions? Do you think they're being truly honest or are they placating you? Family friends??
If you're really concerned ask for it to be moderated

TheFallenMadonna · 02/02/2017 19:10

So, the teacher's own HOD has told you that she believes the teacher has marked incorrectly, but the mark still stands??

TheFallenMadonna · 02/02/2017 19:13

Anyway, even if internal moderation doesn't work, there will be external moderation, which marks work independently of the school. Both the teacher and the HOD will be hauled over the coals if a big adjustment is required.

donquixotedelamancha · 02/02/2017 19:36

Simply ask the HoD to have the coursework moderated. If there is a big issue like you say, it will be fixed (yep, another teacher here; yep, I'm sure that's how it works).

I would bet a large amount of money that you are deluded about this one:

"just to mention: the teacher's daughter applied to UCL and Edinburgh last year and failed, and this can be the reason." Do you know how batshit this sounds?

"the head of art department in the school says that my daughter deserves A" If the HoD thought all the pieces were A grade, she'd have been given an A* for them, because the HoD is the boss. Either the HoD is too generous (ours was when he first arrived) or, more likely, you are twisting some offhand comment.

When your daughter doesn't get an A* because the moderation stuck with the original grades, I think you should consider the impact your behaviour will have on your children. Growing up with unrealistic expectations and an overactive sense of entitlement isn't healthy.

Peanutbutterrules · 02/02/2017 20:20

You should be getting your daughter to concentrate on what she needs to do to get an A*. Not making up bizarre conspiracy theories.

ConfessorKahlan · 02/02/2017 20:28

Is this for real?

Why would any one thinka teacher would downgrade work because her daughter didn't get a place at a certain uni?

Geta grip. You're just disappointed with the gade and looking for someone to blame.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 02/02/2017 20:30

😂😂😂😂😂😂

youarenotkiddingme · 02/02/2017 20:35

Ask for a meeting with HoD. Ask her why there's a conflict in what she says and what she's graded. And ask how she can improve her work.

There's no way a teacher marks her student down. She woukdnt risk her job and pay rise!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/02/2017 20:37

I dunno, Art is such a subjective thing. And having had two kids do Art A level it seems to me that teachers can certainly have favourites and unfavourites. (And mine have been on both sides of that at various times).

In your position I'd speak to the HOD I think.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 02/02/2017 21:27

There's no way a teacher marks her student down. She woukdnt risk her job and pay rise!

^ this

LindyHemming · 02/02/2017 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catkind · 02/02/2017 22:27

I don't know a huge amount about art, but with this sort of coursework isn't there a written aspect as well as the artwork itself? Could it be that she's not doing enough in that part?

Either way I'd think you or daughter should have a talk to the teacher about where she's losing marks, and if that doesn't clarify things then speak to the head of art and see if they can shed any light.

I would say though to people pouring scorn on your worries - yes it's hugely unlikely that a teacher would be so unprofessional, and OP should look at other possibilities first to understand what's going on. On the other hand, dog bites man isn't news. It only takes one bad egg out of 1000s to trigger a MN post. She wouldn't be the first child ever to have coursework wrongly marked, and it's not unreasonable to ask whether there's a process to trigger a moderation/remark.

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