Support for Students on A-Level Results Day

On 15th August 2024, students across the country who have taken A-Level examinations will be receiving their results. 

It will be a stressful day for many, especially because University offers for admission are often conditional upon receiving certain A Level grades. The pressure to perform is therefore significant. As Education Law Specialists, we have experience in assisting students in challenging the grades they have received for a variety of reasons, such as: 

Special Consideration
The student may have been temporarily ill, suffering from a bereavement, or experiencing a serious disturbance during their examination. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) allows for students to apply for Special Consideration where they have been “materially affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control”. Students can be awarded an allowance of additional marks to the affected assessments if they fulfil the criteria for Special Consideration. An application for Special Consideration must be submitted before the deadline for reviews of results for the examination series, so the student must act quickly to ensure this timescale is adhered to. Our Education Law experts will be happy to provide advice on this option.

Grade Reviews and Appeals
Additionally, if a student believes that there has been an error in the marking of the work, they can ask for a review of the marking. They can do this by asking their school or college, or going directly to the exam board if they took the examinations privately.

If the student still believes there is a mistake after review, or that the awarding body has not applied their marking procedures fairly or consistently, they can appeal the result. The exam board will investigate the matter and decide if corrections need to be made.

Inadequate Teaching
Alternatively, the student may consider that the teaching they have received throughout the A-Level course has been inadequate, leading to a result that does not accurately reflect their capabilities. Teaching of the course syllabus should be delivered in full and within a reasonable time frame prior to the examination. The student should also be allowed to access support from their teachers and be provided with opportunities to practise mock questions/examinations and access appropriate feedback for such to allow them the best chances of success. There may be remedies available; do contact us for specialist advice if you have experienced related issues.

Clearing
If you are disappointed that your grades did not meet a university’s conditional offer, but you do not believe you meet the grounds for appeal, you may be able to apply for an alternative course through the Clearing process via Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Some universities have remaining placements left for their courses after their original application deadline. More information can be found for the 2024 Clearing process here: https://www.ucas.com/clearing-launch.

If you are looking for advice and assistance with any of the above matters, please do not hesitate to call our specialist Education Law team on 03333 20 27 175 or alternatively, send us an email at education@hcbgroup.com.