Review Ofqual's standardisation process of centre assessment grades before it's too late

Review Ofqual's standardisation process of centre assessment grades before it's too late

Started
16 June 2020
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Signatures: 1,498Next Goal: 1,500
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Why this petition matters

Started by Graham Booker

My name is Graham Booker - I am 18 years old and was due to sit my A-level exams in June. Since 2013, I have attended a state school which has experienced several years of disappointing post-16 exam results. Last year, the average A-level result was a D, and the progress score (-0.57) classifies the centre 'well below average’ in comparison to others across the UK. Having achieved 11 A*-A grades at GCSE, I was determined to exceed the previous results at my Sixth Form. I currently hold an offer to study Medicine at King’s College London, though I am worried that I will lose my place if my centre assessment grades are unfairly adjusted due to the performance of previous cohorts. Ofqual's most recent guidance states that:
 
"The standardisation process will place more weight on a centre’s historical performance in a subject than the submitted centre assessment grades where that will result in students getting the grades that they would most likely have achieved had they been able to complete their assessments in summer 2020."
 
The government has repeatedly promised that "no pupil will be disadvantaged", yet Ofqual's current approach will immediately disadvantage talented pupils attending low-performing state schools.

Furthermore, this issue will have a profound impact in the progression of state school pupils into higher education. Universities such as UCL have stated that applicants who are unhappy with their Summer exam results "will be required to re-apply and will be considered in competition with other applicants for 2021”. As Ofqual's approach shows bias towards the majority of grammar and private schools, this will widen the class divide within top universities. Moreover, socially distanced teaching in sixth forms will become more challenging, as capable pupils will be deprived of their hard-earned university places.

It is unacceptable that pupils who have worked extremely hard to exceed the typical result of their school will not receive the credit they wholly deserve. Therefore, I urge Ofqual to formally review the impact of their current standardisation model - recognising that it must be changed to ensure fairness in the Summer 2020 exam series.

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Signatures: 1,498Next Goal: 1,500
Support now
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