ISC response to Ofqual consultation on arrangements for awarding grades for GCSE, AS and A-levels this summer
Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, has responded to the launch of an Ofqual consultation on how GCSE, AS and A-level grades should be awarded in summer 2021.
The ISC chairman said: “There is still much important detail missing from these proposals, but we hope that this consultation process will be an opportunity for everyone in the education sector to help create the fairest assessment process possible – one which accurately reflects students’ efforts and ability.
“We welcome the use of exam board tests as a means of establishing a level playing field. However, there are other issues that clearly need to be addressed.
“Teachers would be asked to assess the standard at which a pupil is performing by early June, but it is not clear how they will account for learning loss, which will of course be different for every young person.
“The proposals would put schools in a very difficult position by asking them to issue provisional grades which can then be challenged by pupils and their parents. This has the potential to create a mammoth appeals system that would simply not be manageable. And, there is no consideration in the consultation of the likelihood of massive grade inflation and its potential impact on students.
“There will of course be a range of views across the education sector on these proposals but the key thing we all want to see is fairness for every pupil.”
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