Coronavirus update: Ofqual issues guidance on appeals for summer 2020

On May 22 Ofqual published its consultation decisions on the exceptional arrangements for awarding GCSE, AS and A levels in 2020. The decisions document noted that further consideration needed to be given to the proposal that Ofqual should not provide for appeals in respect of the operation of the statistical standardisation.

Today, Ofqual has published a guidance document for centres on the appeals process. The guidance includes details of:

• How students, through their centre, can appeal the outcome if they believe the process of calculating grades was not followed correctly in their case
• Explanation for centres to appeal if they believe something systemic has gone wrong in relation to their results
• Instructions for awarding bodies to investigate allegations of potential malpractice or maladministration
• Any student unable to receive a calculated result, and others who would like to improve their grades, will have an opportunity to take the full suite of GCSE, AS and A level exams in the autumn

We are working with JCQ to produce a comprehensive guide for centres on this summer’s appeals process which will complement the information provided in Ofqual’s guidance, once the final version is published.  We will also provide information for learners and their parents, so they are aware of how their school or college can support them if they wish to appeal their final qualification result.