Harrogate Grammar School says it will begin appeals process as A Level grades 'do not reflect that of typical cohort'

The Headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School has said he will go through the appeals process for many of the A Level grades handed out today as he does not feel they are truly representative.
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It comes on what the school says it has been an 'exceptional day' as students received their A Level results amid the global pandemic.

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Results day this year looked very different with students not only receiving results via email, but also having faced the sudden end to their time at school without any of the usual celebrations.

Students at Harrogate Grammar School got their A Level results today.Students at Harrogate Grammar School got their A Level results today.
Students at Harrogate Grammar School got their A Level results today.

A statement from the school reads: "The completion of Centre Assessed Grades was a process that has never been attempted before and was forced by circumstances which nobody could possibly have foreseen.

"The staff at Harrogate Grammar School worked diligently and ethically to provide grades for students and to place them in rank order as fairly and accurately as possible. A picture has emerged, similar to that at a national level, where Harrogate Grammar School have seen variation between the Centre Assessed Grades and the Final Exam Grade.

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"The exam board moderation process has resulted in 35% of Centre Assessed Grades being changed, representing 384 grades out of 1104 grades. The vast majority of the changes have resulted in results 1 grade lower than anticipated by the school."

Neil Renton, Headteacher, added: “Our immediate priority today is to support our students to secure suitable progression routes whether through clearing, employment, apprenticeship or by repeating the year.

"Despite our disappointment with the changes to grades, indications are that a very similar number of students have secured their first or second choice university place. Our focus over the forthcoming days will be to further analyse and investigate the variation between grades and pursue subsequent appeals, including where mock grades are higher than final results. We will pursue change through the appeals process as it is our view that the overall final grading of the cohort does not fully reflect what a typical cohort at our school would achieve.

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"We would like to stress that we recognise the exceptional hard work of all our students, the support of their families and the dedication of all of our teachers and support staff over the duration of their schooling. This is a cohort of young people who have had an experience in their final year of school like no other. It is important that we celebrate the success of our students, take great pride in their achievements over many years and wish them every success in their future endeavours.”

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