UK Parents Prepare to Take Legal Action Against 2021 A-Level Exam Results

Students’ A-level grades aren’t set to be released until Aug. 10, but parents are already contacting lawyers about the possibility of appealing them, the Observer reports.

Last summer, an algorithm designed to deliver marks caused chaotic and disappointing results for students, so this year, schools have discretion and teachers are assessing their own pupils.

However, this approach is already being criticised as well, with teachers, unions and academics  worried about a fallout amid claims of grade inflation and disparities in the way different schools grade their students. 

The worries appear warranted, with education lawyers telling the Observer that parents who fear the teacher-assessed A-levels grades will be biased are already contacting them about how to appeal.

Doyle Clayton Education Lawyer Amara Ahmad told the Observer that she’s already received calls from parents. 

“Parents want to start preparing for appeals now,” she said. 

“Some are in the dark about the grades their child has achieved throughout the academic year or what evidence the teacher-assessed grades will be based on.”

Ahmad said, even as she is hearing from parents about upcoming grades, she is still dealing with claims against last year’s grades, with many allegations of bias. However, in most cases, the education board has ruled that teachers had the discretion to give the grades they did. 

Meanwhile, teaching leaders are also angry that the government has been slow to roll out ways that students can be fairly assessed across different schools. They told the Observer they fear that they will be “hung out to dry” by angry parents, if anything goes wrong with grades. 

National Education Union Joint General Secretary Mary Bousted said she was concerned teachers would be “left in the lurch” by a secretary of state who walks away from a situation they created, all the while blaming teachers.

Right now, the appeals process if students aren’t happy with their grades assessment is unclear. Teachers and parents are equally in the dark, the Observer reports. 

Last year, exams regulator Ofqual used an algorithm that saw students’ predicted grades downgraded by 40 per cent. In some cases, this affected which university students were able to attend.

Lawyers told the Observer that this year’s model is fairer, but there are still risks. 

One concern is whether special education needs and disabilities will be taken into account when assessing grades this year, and how that will be done. 

HCB Solicitors Education Lawyer Rhys Palmer told the Observer the firm was being contacted by parents of students with special educational needs and disabilities. 

“They are concerned that schools may not take into consideration the difficulties their child may have faced this year such as bereavement, illness or as a result of the lack of reasonable adjustments when assessing their grades.”

A spokesman for exams regulator Ofqual told the Observer that, if a student requests it, schools must submit an appeal to an exam board.

“Our analysis of summer 2020’s grades found no evidence of systematic bias against disabled students, other protected characteristics or those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

What do you think about the assessment method this year? Let us know in the comments!

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