Frustration over A Level downgrades

One local principal has now called for predicted A Level grades to be reinstated after almost half their students received downgraded results.

Katrina Crilly, principal of Oakgrove College, is one of a number of Derry head teachers who has raised concerns about the grading process for this year’s A Levels.

She has said the downgrading of predicted grades has led to a situation where teachers feel the integrity of their profession has been called into question.

Examinations were cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and students’ results were based on teachers’ predictions. Schools were also asked to rank pupils and all this was submitted to CCEA who used statistical standardisation models, but many of the final grades were lower than the teachers’ predictions.

Ms Crilly said the school had a ‘rigorous process’ for predicting grades. “When I signed those grades off I was very happy with them because I know the time and diligence that went into predicting them. Now I have to ask why did we bother because 50 per cent of them have been ignored.”

The principal called for the predicted grades to be reinstated, something which has already happened in Scotland.

“We asked this profession to stand up and take accountability for results and now the government is saying in actual fact we don’t agree with what your standard is.”

Ms Crilly also raised concerns about the impact on the students’ mental health. “The results were moved to suit the NI average, it was nothing to do with the children at all. Who is going to take responsibility for the impact that will have on their mental health?”

Meanwhile, Martine Mulhern, Principal of St. Cecilia’s College, expressed disappointment that students had been ‘let down by our education system’.

She said while many students did incredibly well, ‘some were left disappointed with grades that neither reflected their ability or work effort.’

The acting principal of St. Mary’s College, Brendan McGinn said a ‘sizeable’ number of students at the school received lower grades than predicted.

“A day like results day should have been a celebration but unfortunately the outcomes for a sizeable number of our girls were unexpectedly lower than we had predicted.

“Our energies now will be on appealing not celebrating and it is quite a sad observation to make.”

Michael Allen, principal of Lisneal College, said 25 per cent of his schools’s predicted grades submitted to CCEA were downgraded.

“We were part of a system of imputting data they were going to apply their model to, nothing more,” Mr Allen said. “In my opinion, the primary driver for this model has been about controlling national statistics.

“The pupils and their individual circumstances have not been considered in the slightest.”

The Education Minister Peter Weir said he understood that some pupils will be disappointed with the results they have received.

“The statistical standardisation model used by CCEA was thoroughly tested by CCEA and also by independent experts. Without the application of this standardisation process, this year’s grades would have been significantly inflated compared to previous years.”

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said children in the North had been ‘let down’ by the education system.

He said students have been subjected to a ‘postcode lottery’ where schools in more disadvantaged socio-economic areas have had their grades adjusted down.

“Not only does the Education Minister needs to hold his hands up and apologise - this situation needs to be fixed. It is now time that the Joint First Ministers must show some leadership and intervene.”

Sinn Fein Education spokesperson Karen Mullan MLA said: “The controversial use of standardisation in predicting grades for some exams appears to have exacerbated the issue of educational underattainment for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

She added this was ‘not acceptable’.