CCEA Regulation launches Consultation on Appeals Process for Summer 2020 awarding of GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications

On 16 April, the Education Minister, Peter Weir MLA, outlined the awarding arrangements for GCSE and AS / A Level qualifications in response to the cancellation of exams as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this statement, the Minister instructed CCEA to develop an appropriate and robust appeals process.

CCEA Chief Executive, Justin Edwards explains, “This summer students’ grades will be calculated using a combination of teacher estimated grades and statistical data. Because there will be no examination scripts to mark, it will therefore not be possible to have a review of the marking process post results as in previous years. The Minister has asked us to develop an alternative appeals process which will address these exceptional circumstances and which will be in line with similar processes being developed by Ofqual and Qualifications Wales.”

The consultation, which will be open until Thursday 21 May 2020, will allow interested groups or individuals to comment on a wide range of principles to be considered in determining a final appeals process. It is expected that in addition to students, parents, teachers and schools directly involved with this summer’s GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications that other respondees will include third level education providers, potential employers and representative bodies, who will be using the grades in their various decision making processes.

“Our primary goal this summer is to award students with grades which fairly reflect their work, thus enabling them to progress towards further education, employment or other pathways. We recognise that not every student will be content with their grade and where this is the case it is very important that the appeals process is fair, open and transparent. In achieving that aim we would encourage all interested parties to respond to our consultation so that the final agreed appeals process will be as robust and equitable as possible,” concluded Mr. Edwards.

A copy of the consultation document can be found here.