Richmond Council has announced its solidarity with local schools and students, in claiming that a disproportionate number of A-level grades awarded locally were unfair, due to the Government’s new evaluation process. 

Today, hundreds of young people across Richmond and Twickenham received their A-Level results, despite not having sat their exams.

Whilst some schools are reporting results were broadly similar to those achieved in previous years, they are also finding a significant proportion of grades have been downgraded by Ofqual, in some cases amounting to 45% of all of those submitted.

The process required teachers to submit the grades they thought each student would have received if they had sat the exams, alongside a rank order of students. Examining bodies then standardised the results.

However, the Council says that as a result of this approach, it is estimated that grades are much lower than predicted, in some cases by two or more grades.

A number of local schools have voiced their enormous disappointment with the figures and will be challenging many grades on behalf of their students, which will be an additional priority for schools to manage alongside planning for September re-opening.

Cllr Penny Frost, Chair of the Education and Children’s Services Committee; 
“Firstly, I would like to say congratulations to those students who have done well today. You should all be very proud of your achievements – particularly in light of the additional challenges you have faced this year.

“However, I am extremely concerned, even with the additional measures announced by the Government late in the day, that many of our hard working students in Richmond upon Thames may not have got the A-levels they deserved today – and we expect it to be similar with GCSE results next week.

“There has been an absolutely shambolic handling of a situation by the Government, which could adversely impact the futures of many young people across the borough.

“It is simply wrong to take account of factors other than the student’s own performance in assessing their achievement and it is certainly wrong to discriminate against students who have attended schools that have not achieved good results in the past. The Government evaluation system has failed so many of our young people. We will be supporting any school and student who wants to take issue with their grades.”

To see further information on the appeals process or support available for those students disappointed with their results, go to: www.richmond.gov.uk/new_blog_examination_results_2020