New exams appeals guidance for secondary schools

Official guidance on the appeals system for GCSE and A level grades in England in 2021 has just been released.

Commenting on guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) on the appeals process for this summer’s A-levels, GCSEs and other qualifications:

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union, NAHT, said:

“We are pleased to see the guidance on appeals finally published. School leaders and their staff are approaching the deadline for the submission of grades on 18th June following assessments, judgements and quality assurance. Now they need to consider this new information on appeals and take on additional work, double-checking their procedures and preparing copious amounts of documentation – to prepare for reviews and appeals in August.

“Back in January, we called on government to remove other burdens on school staff this term to provide the time and space needed for them to fulfil their responsibilities relating to the processes of awarding grades, and now for preparing for appeals. Little, if anything, has been done to provide additional support or resources, or to remove any other burdens. It is not too late for government to step in to do this.”

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We’ve talked extensively to the Department for Education, Ofqual and JCQ about this issue over the past few weeks, and with them have collectively tried to make the best of difficult circumstances.

“Our main concern over the appeals process is the extra burden it places on schools and colleges after they have already shouldered the responsibility of assessing and submitting grades following the cancellation of public exams.

“While some of the appeals process is being picked up by the exam boards there is still a lot that is being landed on schools and colleges.

“The process entails them having in place systems, resources and staffing from results days onwards in August for priority appeals from students in danger of missing out on university places.

“Then in September, when schools and colleges are managing the start of the new school year, they will also have to deal with all other appeals. As appeals are free and available on demand, there is a risk that schools and colleges may face very significant extra workload at a time when they are already at full stretch.

“The DfE has recognised the implications in August and has told us that funding will be made available for schools and colleges to bring in staff during the summer holiday period, and we appreciate that gesture.

“However, we remain very concerned about the overall situation and the fact that schools and colleges are once again left having to pick up the pieces in a grading system that has been hastily constructed because the government didn’t have a contingency plan in place in the event of public exams being cancelled.”