A-levels | Schools Week

A-level results 2021: Private schools see bigger jump in top grades

Private schools have seen a bigger jump in the number of top grades than state schools in this year’s A-level results, according to Ofqual. Labour said the figures showed the Conservatives had “opened the door to unfairness”, noting private schools appear more likely to give prior access to questions and face parental pressure over grades. […]

A-level results 2021: Attainment gap widens for black and poorer pupils

Longstanding attainment gaps for both black and poorer students have widened, but Ofqual is unable to untangle whether this is down to Covid lost learning or the use of teacher grades this year. Ofqual has today published student-level equalities analysis of A-level results, which includes data on how likely different groups of pupils are to receive […]

Ofqual chief criticised over ’embarrassing’ claim teacher grades ‘more accurate’ than exams

The head of England’s exams regulator has been criticised over his “embarrassing” claim that teacher-assessment grades were “likely to give a much more accurate” reflection of students’ capabilities than exams. We can feel satisfied it’s likely to give a much more accurate and substantial reflection of what their students are capable of achieving One former […]

GCSE and A-level appeals 2021: Your questions answered

Students wanting to appeal their grades this summer will face a different process than usual, with warnings any reviews will have a “very high” threshold to meet for results to be overturned. There will also be an autumn exam series for students who want to sit a formal test in their subject, if they are […]

Exam results 2021: What you need to know about Ofqual appeals

Exams regulator Ofqual has published full details of how students can access its Exam Procedures Review Service this year. The review forms the final stage in the process of appealing grades. The first stage is a school review to check if any administrative errors have been made. A student can then appeal to the exam […]

Teachers at affluent schools more likely to face parent grade pressure, study finds

Teachers in affluent schools were more likely to be pressured by pushy parents to boost their child’s grades this year, a new study has found. The Sutton Trust‘s research looks at the pandemic’s impact on assessments and university admissions in light of exams being cancelled for a second year. Researchers used data from 463 student […]

Students are worried employers will see TAGs as ‘fake grades’, says Ofqual advisers

Students are worried employers will see their teacher assessed GCSEs as “fake grades”, Ofqual has said, as the regulator tries to quell fears about upcoming results days. Child psychology and education experts have been speaking to students preparing to receive grades next month about their concerns. The experts include Kevin Woods, educational and child psychologist […]

Secondary school league tables to return in 2021-22

Secondary school league tables will be brought back next academic year after being suspended for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has said. But primary schools will not see their test results published in national league tables for another year. The Department for Education has today confirmed school and college accountability arrangements […]

Exams 2021: AQA to return 26% of fees paid by schools

Exam board AQA has confirmed it will once again return just 26 per cent of entry fees paid this year after saving £45 million. In a statement today the board said it was returning all of the money it saved to schools “because, as we’ve always said, we’d never want to benefit financially from the […]