James Carr | Schools Week

Revealed: Ofqual warned of algorithm legal risk

Ofqual warned the government that exam boards could face legal challenges over the issuing of statistically moderated grades, newly published Covid-19 planning documents have revealed. A contingency planning document sent to the government on March 16 sets out numerous risks associated with using the controversial approach which ignited last month’s exams grading fiasco . The […]

Minister’s failed promises on testing ‘undermining’ school returns as thousands face delays

The government’s failure to provide the promised access to Covid testing is undermining the full reopening of schools – with more than 200 schools reporting delays, a union has warned. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the difficulty in accessing tests means that pupils and staff with symptoms […]

School reopenings ‘derailed’ as test and trace system ‘falls over’

The ability of schools to help pupils catch-up on months of lost learning is being “derailed” as the government’s Covid-19 testing system “falls over”, leaders have claimed. Schools across England began returning to the classroom last week for the start of the new academic year, but dozens have already either partially or completely shutdown due […]

Trust faces losing its 4 schools amid ‘serious management breakdown’

An academy trust has been warned it will be stripped of its four schools unless it takes urgent action after a “complete breakdown of trust and confidence” amid “malpractice” concerns. Learning Link Multi Academy Trust has been issued termination warning notices for each of its four Dudley primary schools following the “collapse of the senior […]

Unions demand U-turn on Ofsted ‘visit’ letters that will ‘create pressure on schools’

Union leaders are demanding Ofsted makes a U-turn on its proposal to publish letters following ‘visits’ during the autumn term. The schools watchdog announced earlier this year its inspectors would be making ‘visits’ to schools following their return to full education this term. These interim ‘visits’ differ from Ofsted’s suspended routine inspections, which return next […]

A-level appeals: Heads fear pupils will miss university start dates

Students awaiting the outcome of appeals against their A-level grades or to take autumn exams could miss the start of their first term at university, heads have warned. Schools are now considering the next steps to take on behalf of pupils following widespread disappointment at exam results yesterday. If the appeal takes as long as […]

A-level results 2020: B grades most likely to be downgraded

Pupils handed B grades by their schools were most likely to have their results downgraded during the standardisation process, Ofqual analysis shows. Grades this year were issued by schools and then standardised by exam boards, which downgraded 39.1 per cent of grades. Data published by the exams regulator today shows that the proportion of B […]

A-level results 2020: Private schools see biggest boost in top grades

Top A-level grades have increased more at private schools than any other type of school and college this year. Analysis from exams regulator Ofqual found 48.6 per cent of private school pupils attained an A* or A this year – an increase of 4.7 percentage points. In comparison, secondary comprehensive schools saw an increase of […]

A level results 2020: Poorer pupils see greater drop in calculated grades

Poorer pupils are more likely to have had their centre-assessed A-level grades lowered during the standardisation process, Ofqual has admitted. Analysis by the exams regulator shows the grades of pupils from low socio-economic backgrounds fell by a larger margin than their better-off peers after moderation. But Ofqual claimed it had found “no evidence” that the […]