What Getting A “Predicted Grade in 2020” Means for Students
As you are aware The Secretary of State for Education announced that the 2020 examinations will be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Our teachers at Summit Saturday School hold senior posts in their schools. They are experienced and very dedicated. Those students who continued classes online, have already been told what ‘getting a predicted GCSE or A Level grade’ in 2020 means.
“Teachers” will be deciding the ‘predicted grade’, going back as far as KS2 attainment! This means that how your child performed in SATs will also be taken into account.
Articles have appeared in the broadsheets expressing concerns about the way pupils will be graded. The consensus is that children from disadvantaged groups will fare badly.
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/29/cancellation-of-gcse-exams-unfair-to-some-students
The Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/f3935c02-6abe-11ea-800d-da70cff6e4d3 via @financialtimes
as well as other broadsheet publications including, The Guardian, Telegraph, Independent.
The SUTTON TRUST has called into questions the validity of predicted grades in relation to underprivileged children. This would include ‘looked after children and minority groups”. It is felt that these grades have regularly proved inaccurate amongst poorer, high achieving students.
Strictly speaking there is no bias from an examiner whose task is solely to judge the student on what is presented in their answer – a fair system. This anonymity disappears when your teacher has the responsibility to decide your grade! It questions what other factors will come into play. Black and disadvantaged pupils fear this subjectivity the most, and it is a relief that pupils will be able to question and appeal their predicted grade. Consider how often predicted grades for ethnic minorities have proved inaccurate! Furthermore, there are fears that cancelling 2020 exams will hit BAME and poor pupils worst. BAME sector always appear to have the greatest challenges in education, though in the main they tend to surmount them.
Taking data from as far back as KS2 can be problematic and risky for some students, especially those in state schools who may not take their education seriously until they are in Year 10 and realise what is at stake.
Given an option many pupils may not choose to sit end of year examinations, because not only are they stressful, but they are not fun. However, at least they can put in a massive effort and when they write their exam and submit the script, it is anonymous. The examiner does not know who you are from Adam!
This is a fair system which evolved over the years to eradicate any question of bias.
Assumptions:
Some parents are of the opinion that the ‘predicted grade’ will relate to a student’s performance in the recent mock examinations and they may even feel a sense of relief that there won’t be any examinations in June 2020, but that is not the full picture.
It is important to consider the components of the predicted grade. The data that will be used goes further back than secondary school:
Your child’s performance in their SATs test in Primary
The attainment level that was achieved at KS2
Recent mock exam grades
Coursework marks
Students know that mock exams are important but how did your child approach them?
Nonchalantly?
As a ‘trial run and a tool to measure how much more effort is required to get the target grade they anticipate?
Were they expecting to use the Easter Revision period to help enhance their final results?
Whatever the attitude at the time the mock examinations were written, will now have serious implications.
Possible Consequences of cancelled exams?
Students may have been lulled into a sense of complacency and downed tools, rather than remain focused and committed. If students stay on track with their education through this period, it will reap rewards in the future. It is unlikely that a good sixth form or college will want to re-educate a new intake.
What happens if you are not happy with the grade your child is given? What can you do about it?
Students can appeal. Those who do, will be able to take an examination when schools reopen if they have challenged the grade they have been given, without time to prepare, to prove that they deserve a higher grade.
This could take place in their current school if they are staying on to 6th form or in college or any other establishment for Higher education.
Another area of concern is what will happen when students apply to take A Level courses in 6th Form? Given the length of time off school, how will this affect their chances of being selected for the specific course they want? Will they be prepared for a test? These are matters that should be considered now, not after your child is given a grade, be prepared and arm yourself with options.
It has been announced that there will be an opportunity to sit examinations in the autumn term
Solutions Summit Saturday School provide:
Our teachers are qualified to teach and able to provide high quality lessons in the following subjects:
• 11, 12 Plus and 13 Plus Preparation
• Key Stage 3 English, Mathematics, Science
• GCSE English Language
• GCSE Mathematics
• GCSE Science
• A Level Pure Mathematics (AQA, Edexcel)
• A Level Further Mathematics (AQA, Edexcel
• A Level Chemistry (Edexcel)