Exams

Exams Information - Summer 2022

Results Day 2022 - Thursday 25th August 

Students can collect their results from the school at the following times:

  • Year 11 - between 9.30am and 11.00am
  • Year 10 - between 10.00am and 11.00am

2021 Exam Information - Results, Certificates and Appeals

2021 - Grading process

In June, Uffculme School submitted provisional (centre assessment) grades to the relevant awarding bodies in accordance with the guidance issued by Ofqual on ‘Awarding qualifications in summer 2021’ (1). Note 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020

In line with this guidance, students were graded on the basis of the standard at which they were actually performing (rather than being based on their potential).  In arriving at this judgement, a full range of evidence was considered including:

  • student work produced in response to assessment materials provided by the exam board, (e.g. groups of questions, past papers or similar materials such as practice or sample papers)
  • non-exam assessment (NEA) work (often referred to as coursework), even if this had not been fully completed
  • student work produced in centre-devised tasks that reflected the specification: followed the same format as exam board materials; and was marked in a way that reflected exam board mark schemes – such as:
      • substantial class or homework (including those that took place during remote learning)
      • internal tests taken by pupils
      • mock exams taken during the programme of study
  • records of a student’s capability and performance during the course in performance-based subjects such as music, drama and PE

All grading information submitted to the exam boards was moderated by department staff and senior leaders within the school prior to its submission.  Where appropriate, adjustments were made to take account of valid special considerations as well as access arrangements.  The grades submitted were therefore Centre Assessed Grades, (rather than Teacher Assessed Grades).

Once submitted to the awarding bodies the grading information has been subject to the Quality Assurance process put in place by Ofqual to ensure the integrity of the exam system.  The final grades are awarded by the awarding bodies and will be released to school for distribution to students on the Results Day (See Sect 2)

 

2021 - Concerns about your results

The National Careers Service Exam Results Helpline (2) offers advice each year for students who have not received the results they had hoped for.  Ofqual will also make a helpline available to students (and their parents / carers) to answer any questions they may have about their results this summer. Note 2 https://www.gov.uk/careers-helpline-for-teenagers

Awarding bodies may also provide information for students about results.  The school will signpost students to any relevant information at results time.

 

2021 - Requesting that a grade be reviewed

Whilst we hope that all students will be pleased with their results, we recognise that some may still be disappointed over a particular grade and want to be sure that it has been correctly awarded.  If you believe an error has been made in determining one of your grades, you will have a right to appeal.  There are two stages to the appeals process:

Stage 1: centre review The first stage of the process is to ask the school to conduct a review of the grade.  As part of this review, we will check:

  • For administrative errors (e.g. whether an incorrect grade was submitted; or an incorrect assessment mark was used as part of the evidence for the grading process; etc).
  • That all the grading procedures were followed correctly (e.g. that the Centre Policy was followed; that appropriate internal quality assurance procedures were followed; that we took proper account of any access arrangements or other mitigating circumstances, such as illness etc)

This Review will be carried out by the school’s Exam Review Panel comprising of Senior staff that have not previously had any involvement in the grading process.

If a student wishes to request a review they should complete the “Stage 1 - Centre Review” request form.  Once you have completed this form it should be emailed to appeals2021@uffculmeschool.net  by midday on Thursday 19th August.  The school’s Exam Review Panel, will meet shortly after this date to review the appeal with the outcome be emailed to the student in the following week.

Stage 2: appeal to the exam board If a student still believes that they don’t have the correct grade after the centre review is complete, they can ask the school to submit an appeal on their behalf to the awarding body who will review whether:

  • the school or college made an unreasonable exercise of academic judgement (3) in the choice of evidence from which they determined the grade, and/or in the determination of the grade from that evidence.
  • the school or college did not apply a procedure correctly, (e.g. they did not follow their Centre Policy; did not undertake appropriate internal quality assurance;  did not take account of access arrangements or other mitigating circumstances, such as illness)
  • the exam board made an administrative error, (e.g. they changed the grade in error when processing it)

Note 3  Reasonable judgement is defined as a judgement that is supported by evidence.  An exercise of judgement will not be judged to be unreasonable simply because a student considers that an alternative grade should have been awarded, even if the student puts forward supporting evidence.  There may be a difference of opinion without there being an unreasonable exercise of judgement.

It’s important to remember that the review process can lead to grades going down, up, or staying the same depending on the outcome of the review.

 

2021 - Certificates

GCSE certificates will not arrive in school until November.  Once we have received them students are invited to collect them at an informal reunion event to be held in the Dining Hall/Venue on Wednesday 17th November 2021, dropping in any time between 5.00 and 6.30pm.  This will not only provide students with the opportunity to collect their certificates, (together with any coursework they might like to have), but also to catch up with their friends.

Results for previous year groups

If you require confirmation of your results and you left School in 2006 or later we may be able to provide a statement of results for you. If you need to access this service, please contact the Exams Officer on exams@uffculmeschool.net. Please be aware that this service carries a £5 administration fee; if you require a formal letter, stamped and signed this carries a £10 fee.

If you have any concerns or queries regarding Exams or the examination process, please contact the Exams Officer on exams@uffculmeschool.net

For details of our results and achievements see ‘About Us – Results’

Information for candidates