#ExamResults A level grade inflation and common-sense

In the last week A level and GCSE level results have been released. Yet again they show grade inflation.

What makes this even more controversial is results are based on teacher assessment rather than controlled examination.

I am commenting on this issue based on common-sense - based on the experience of a parent - and based on the fact I was a governor of two different schools totalling a 10 year stint (albeit a few years ago now.)

I am going to make my points in bullet point form for simplicity and because of time constraints (it is holiday time and my grand children are here).

• The government cancelled formal national based exams because of practical covid considerations. It is hard to challenge this decision (although some of course will challenge any decision a government make for political reasons).
• Independent controlled national exams removes most of the possibility of any outside influence on results (although admittedly and historically fault has been found in vagaries of exam paper marking. There is no such thing as a perfect system.) 
• The gov't tried to use an algorithm to predict grades to replace the temporary halting of formal exams but there was an out cry against the results it produced. The results using the algorithm were based on past performance and therefore gave no scope for undue improvement! 
• The only other viable option was "teacher assessment". In effect teachers marking their own homework.
• This is what teachers unions, teachers and the majority of schools wanted. 
• Teachers claim they are the ones who know their students best and as they the teachers are professionals they will ensure grades awarded by them are objective and fair.

The results just released show A level A and A* grades awarded nearly doubled and almost 50% of candidates achieved A or A* grades. 

Despite this unprecedented increase the on message is results can be trusted.

However the reality is this evident grade inflation casts doubt on the veracity of some results and so it should. Can the results be trusted? 

Well is the current cohort so significantly brighter than their predecessors? Or have they worked so much harder. Or have schools improved their teaching to such an extent ? The answer logically is surely no. So what is the explanation for "grade inflation"!

In my opinion the explanation is simple. Teachers have over graded their pupils and the reason why is not complicated to understand (and expect).

All schools are placed in league tables based on their exam results. Those league tables in simplistic terms determine which schools are considered to be the "best" schools and which are the failing schools. These league tables are used by parents to determine choice of schools. Pupil numbers largely determine allocated resources and kudos and career advancement flows to the leadership (and teachers) of "successful" schools. 

By the same token "failing" schools are under pressure. Heads can lose their jobs. Governors and OFSTED will be on their case. Teachers who are not getting good exam results from their students are under pressure. Heads will be putting pressure on them to up their game.

So with the best will in the world if teachers (schools) can mark (grade) their own pupils - they are likely (bound) to grant them the best possible awards for reasons of self preservation and self interest. Sadly the system puts maintaining "professionalism" under unrealistic pressure. There is additionally the emotional pull from students to teachers - why not give them the best possible grades (the best grades we can get away with) - it will open doors for them !? Teachers and schools have caved in.

Flowing from this are a number of unsatisfactory outcomes :

• If almost 50% get A and A* grades they lose a lot as a measure of excellence. Future employers will not trust them.
• Genuinely bright students will not be clearly identified.
• However competing universities desperate for students to fill their courses (to generate fees) will now be able offer them without being accused of dumbing down academic standards. 
• Over rated students will come a cropper at some future stage as they are not as bright as their grades indicate.

Having said all of this I do not believe it could have been avoided. As soon as you cannot sit vigorous exams in a controlled setting with fully independent marking (as the gov't couldn't do in the covid pandemic) there will inevitably be test flogging, distortion and over marking. (We have previously seen this when results are based on too high a proportion of "course work".)

Covid has had a very broad impact on education. It has been very hard on students. Students (and their parents) cannot be blamed for grabbing everything they can even if deep down they know grades achieved are lets say - better than their normal standard. Sadly it is life but eventually it will all come out in the wash.