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2020 United Kingdom school exam grading controversy

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, all secondary education examinations due to be held in 2020 were cancelled. As a result, an alternative method had to be designed and implemented at short notice to determine the qualification grades to be awarded to students for that year. A standardisation algorithm was produced in June 2020 by the regulator Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales in Wales, Scottish Qualifications Authority in Scotland, and CCEA in Northern Ireland. The algorithm was designed to combat grade inflation, and was to be used to moderate the existing but unpublished centre-assessed grades for A-Level and GCSE students. After the A-Level grades were issued, and after criticism, Ofqual, with the support of HM Government, withdrew these grades. It issued all students the Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs), which had been produced by teachers as part of the process. The same ruling was applied to the awarding of GCSE grades, just a few days before they were issued: CAG-based grades were the ones released on results day.

A similar controversy erupted in Scotland, after the Scottish Qualifications Authority marked down as many as 75,000 predicted grades to "maintain credibility", and later agreed to upgrade the results and issue new exam certificates. The Scottish Government apologised for the controversy, with Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland saying of the situation that the Scottish Government "did not get it right".

Background

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In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, students sit General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and A-Level exams, typically at ages 16 and 18 respectively. Similar but equivalent international versions of these qualifications are offered by UK exam boards.

On 18 March 2020, the government decided to cancel all examinations in England due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although the regulator, Ofqual, had advised that holding exams in a socially distanced manner was the best option.[1] The same cancellation decision was taken by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland devolved governments.[2][3] The governments announced that, in their place, grades were to be based on teacher predictions which would be moderated to prevent grade inflation.[4] Overseas exams provided by CIE were cancelled on 23 March 2020, and grades were issued on the same basis as in England.[5][6]

Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson stated that his "priority now is to ensure no young person faces a barrier when it comes to moving on to the next stage of their lives – whether that's further or higher education, an apprenticeship or a job" and that he had "asked exam boards to work closely with the teachers who know their pupils best to ensure their hard work and dedication is rewarded and fairly recognised."[4] Students unhappy with their calculated grades would be able to appeal through their school, or sit exams in the autumn.[7]

For homeschooled students, or those retaking exams, Ofqual stated they may not receive a grade, and would have to sit exams in 2021 because of a "lack of any credible alternatives identified".[8][9][10] It was estimated that over 20,000 students would be affected, and would be unable to move on to college or university.[11][12]

Standardisation algorithm

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Main article: Ofqual exam results algorithm

A grades standardisation algorithm was produced by Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications, exams and tests in England. It was designed to combat grade inflation, and was to be used to standardise or moderate the teacher-predicted grades for A Level and GCSE qualifications.[13]

A-Level results

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The A-Level grades were announced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 13 August 2020. Nearly 36% were one grade lower than teachers' predictions and 3% were down two grades.[14][15] By comparison, 79% of university entrants in 2019 did not achieve their predicted grades.[15]

Reaction

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The release of results resulted in a public outcry. Particular criticism was made of the disparate effect the grading algorithm had in downgrading the results of those who attended state schools, and upgrading the results of pupils at privately funded independent schools and thus disadvantaging pupils of a lower socio-economic background, in part due to the algorithm's behaviour around small cohort sizes, and resulting in private schools seeing a bigger yearly increase in the proportion of students getting As and A*s than others.[16][17]

Students and teachers felt deprived and upset following the controversial algorithm calculation and protested against it, with many demanding Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government take immediate action.[18] In response to the public outcry, on 15 August, Gavin Williamson said that the grading system is here to stay, and there will be "no U-turn, no change". Williamson criticised Scottish ministers for their u-turn the week prior, stating that awarding unmoderated grades would be "unwise", cause "rampant grade inflation". Instead, he suggested that schools appeal swiftly on behalf of affected students, to ensure any errors could be amended.[19][20] Boris Johnson stated that the results are "robust and dependable".[21]

Legal action, in the form of judicial review, was initiated by multiple students and legal advocacy organisations such as the Good Law Project.[22][23]

A-Level results revised

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On 17 August, Ofqual and Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson agreed that grades would be reissued using unmoderated teacher predictions.[24][25] As a result, there was an annual increase by more than 10 percentage points in the number of top grades awarded (from 25.2% to an estimated 37.7%),[26] the biggest increase for at least 20 years.[27]

The initial algorithm 'upgraded' students, leading 100,000 to secure their firm university choices, which filled courses at top universities. The switch to teacher-assessed grades meant that a further 15,000, who at first missed their firm offers, then met their grade requirements. This caused a capacity issue that meant that some oversubscribed universities, such as Durham University, had to offer incentives for students to defer their place to the following academic year. Incentives from Durham included money and a guarantee of accommodation choice.[28][29]

GCSE results

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On 20 August 2020 the GCSE results were released.[30] After the problems arising from the use of the grade algorithm for A-Levels, it was decided that GCSE grades awarded to each student would be the higher of the teacher predicted result or algorithm standardised result for each subject they took.[30]

Vocational and technical qualifications (BTEC) results

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A further 200,000 students who had taken the level one and two vocational qualifications were told on 19 August 2020, hours before results day, that they would not receive them on time. About 250,000 level-three grades, which had already been awarded, were also reassessed; these vocational equivalents to A-Levels had been given a result at the same time as the A-Levels were released. The examining board, Pearson Edexcel, withdrew them when the controversy broke, and has re-marked them upwards and is issuing a revised certificate, on a rolling basis, in the week beginning 24 August.[31]

Aftermath

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Resignations in the aftermath of the controversy
Sally Collier, CEO and Chief Regulator of Ofqual
Jonathan Slater, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education

On 25 August 2020, Sally Collier resigned from the position of chief regulator of Ofqual following the grading controversy.[32][33] Three days later, Permanent Secretary Jonathan Slater, the most senior civil servant at the Department for Education (DfE), stood down.[34] Subsequently, the government was accused of scapegoating civil servants and avoiding accountability.[35][36][37]

On 1 September, the question of blame was reopened by The Guardian. In a report OCR, one of the exam boards, told Williamson that the algorithm was producing some rogue results. But Williamson and the DfE were told by Ofqual that the appeals procedure would correct the few rogue results. OCR informed them that this was more than a few results and that patterns could be observed, such as students with better results than a low-performing group the year before.[38]

On 2 September, Ofqual's chair Roger Taylor appeared before the Education Select Committee of the House of Commons during their inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on education and children's services.[39] He apologised to students, parents and teachers,[1] and stated that the Secretary of State made the decisions to cancel examinations and to abruptly withdraw the procedure to challenge calculated A-level grades.[40]

Scottish Highers

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On 4 August 2020, secondary school students in Scotland received their Higher grades. Having also been unable to take their exams because of the pandemic, their grades were estimated by teachers, but the body awarding the qualifications was reported to have downgraded around a quarter of the marks awarded in order to "maintain credibility".[41] Following criticism of the system from teachers and students, on 10 August, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon apologised for the controversy, saying the Scottish Government "did not get it right".[42] The following day, on 11 August, the Scottish Government agreed to upgrade thousands of exam results, and accept teachers' estimates of pupils' results.[43] On 18 August, the Scottish Qualifications Authority announced that 75,000 new exam certificates would be issued.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Taylor, Roger (2 September 2020). "Written statement from Chair of Ofqual to the Education Select Committee". GOV.UK. Ofqual. Archived from the original on 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. ^ Richardson, Hannah (20 March 2020). "Teachers to estimate grades after exams cancelled". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Scottish exams cancelled for first time in history". BBC News. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b Parker, Kate (20 March 2020). "GCSE resits: students to receive 'calculated' grades". TES. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Coronavirus: Cambridge International axes international A-Levels and GCSEs". The National. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Update from Cambridge International on May/June 2020 exams". www.cambridgeinternational.org. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. ^ Sellgren, Katherine (30 June 2020). "GCSE and A-level 'back-up' exams for all subjects". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. ^ Bennett, Rosemary (29 April 2020). "Exams loophole leaves home‑schooled children in limbo". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  9. ^ Gayle, Damien (20 August 2020). "A-level entrants who studied privately left without grades". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Ofqual not budging on plan for private candidates despite schools' 'reluctance' to offer grades". Schools Week. 20 May 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  11. ^ Pells, Rachael (25 August 2020). "The UK's A-level fiasco has left thousands without grades". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  12. ^ Persaud, Joy (20 August 2020). "Home-educated children left abandoned in exams grade debacle". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  13. ^ Hughes, David (17 August 2020). "What is the A-level algorithm? How the Ofqual's grade calculation worked – and its effect on 2020 results explained". i News. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  14. ^ "A-levels and GCSEs: How did the exam algorithm work?". BBC News. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  15. ^ a b Turner, Camilla; Mikhailova, Anna; Neilan, Catherine (13 August 2020). "Teachers accused of submitting 'implausibly high' predicted grades as A-level results row grows". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Gavin Williamson faces backlash over A-levels as private schools see biggest increase in top grades". i News. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  17. ^ Lee, Georgina (14 August 2020). "FactCheck: did England exam system favour private schools?". Channel 4 News. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  18. ^ Burns, Sean; Coughlan, Katherine; Sellgren, Judith (13 August 2020). "Anger over 'unfair' A-level results". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  19. ^ Swinford, Steven. "Gavin Williamson interview: 'In Scotland there were no checks . . . it degrades every single exam result'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Gavin Williamson vows 'no U-turn, no change' over A-level grading system". inews.co.uk. 15 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Boris Johnson insists A-level results are 'robust' as he shrugs off protests from teachers and pupils". The Independent. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  22. ^ Busby, Mattha (16 August 2020). "A-level student launches legal bid against Ofqual". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Angry students launch legal challenge to exam results and call for Gavin Williamson to resign". inews.co.uk. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  24. ^ "A-levels and GCSEs: U-turn as teacher estimates to be used for exam results". BBC News. 17 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  25. ^ "'We're picking up the pieces': a university vice-chancellor's diary of A-level chaos". The Guardian. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  26. ^ Hazell, Will. "A-level results 2020: 39% of teacher predicted grades downgraded by algorithm amid calls for U-turn". No. 13 August 2020. i. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  27. ^ Clark, Alex; Gilbert, Dominic (18 August 2020). "In charts: How the A-level algorithm U-turn fails to fix grade inequality". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  28. ^ Mendick, Robert (19 August 2020). "Durham University becomes first to offer students incentives to defer their place for a year". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  29. ^ Weale, Sally; Adams, Richard (19 August 2020). "Durham University offers students money to defer entry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  30. ^ a b "GCSE results rise as grades done on teacher assessments". BBC News. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  31. ^ Gayle, Damian (25 August 2020). "Exams row: BTec students begin receiving revised grades". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  32. ^ Richardson, Hannah (25 August 2020). "Ofqual chief resigns after exams chaos". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Ofqual head Sally Collier resigns over exams fiasco". The Guardian. 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  34. ^ Stewart, Heather; Weale, Sally (26 August 2020). "Top DfE official's exit 'proof that ministerial accountability is dead'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  35. ^ Woodcock, Andrew (27 August 2020). "Influential Westminster think tank calls for Gavin Williamson to resign over 'rolling debacle' of exams crisis". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  36. ^ "Chief civil servant sacked after exams row". BBC News. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  37. ^ Byrne, Christopher; Theakston, Kevin; Randall, Nick (21 August 2020). "Gavin Williamson, Ofqual and the great A-level blame game". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  38. ^ Adams, Richard; Stewart, Heather (1 September 2020). "Williamson told about flaws in A-level model two weeks before results". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  39. ^ "The impact of COVID-19 on education and children's services". committees.parliament.uk. Education Committee. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  40. ^ Adams, Richard (2 September 2020). "Gavin Williamson to blame for England exams fiasco, says Ofqual chair". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  41. ^ "Thousands of Scots pupils have exam grades lowered". BBC News. 4 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  42. ^ "Sturgeon 'sorry' over Scottish exam results". BBC News. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  43. ^ "Scottish school pupils have results upgraded". BBC News. 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  44. ^ "New results certificates to be issued from 7 September". BBC News. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
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