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Secondary education

What happens if the school screws up?

14 replies

curlew · 16/08/2013 08:29

The school failed to submit a significant chunk of a student's coursework, so the AS grade was a C with an asterisk to indicate that the work was incomplete. The school is saying that it's an "unfortunate error for which we apologise" but that nothing can be done. Does anyone know whether this is true?

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Weegiemum · 16/08/2013 08:34

Official complaint to school, cc to LEA. This is unacceptable (I'm a teacher, never heard of this happening so it's a big mess up on part of the school).

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FieryChipotle · 16/08/2013 08:45

That is really bad. Also a teacher and have never heard of such a thing. Agree that the LEA should be informed. Can the work be resubmitted next year? The school should be proactive in sorting this out. I'm sure that heads have already rolled over this, but you should make an almighty fuss.

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senua · 16/08/2013 08:45

At least you have it in writing that the school admits that it was their error.
Can you contact the Examining Board for advice?

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curlew · 16/08/2013 08:49

It's not my child, it's a friend's. They don't have anything in writing- that's just what the school said yesterday morning. I was talking to his mum last night and she said that apparently nothing can be done, because there's no way to prove that the work was done before the deadline. Which struck me as really odd, but she's not a boat rocker and I am!

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TheFallenMadonna · 16/08/2013 08:53

I don't think there's anything that can be done with respect to the AS grade, if that's your question. However, as it is AS, it can be rectified for A2 by resubmitting, and can be explained on the UCAS application.

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TheFallenMadonna · 16/08/2013 08:56

The deadline for submitting coursework marks is early/mid may, depending on the board. The work is then moderated, and the school has a couple of days to produce the requested sample. Submitting now means the work wouldn't be available for moderation. However, it would be available for moderation in the next exam series, which is next May/June.

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curlew · 16/08/2013 09:10

Thank you everyone.

The school's story is that there were 6 students doing this subject. They were required to send 4 in for moderation, which they did. The other two should have been submitted separately, and that's what didn't happen. The other student is dropping the subject anyway, so isn't concerned, but this boy needs an A at A2. The work that wasn't submitted was marked as an A. The school was very definite that all they could do was explain the situation on his UCAS form. It sounds from what you are saying that it can be submitted with the rest of his work next summer- am I understanding properly?

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TheFallenMadonna · 16/08/2013 09:12

But you submit marks before you submit the sample. The sample is requested based on the submitted marks. we submitted our marks by 15 May, got our sample requests a week later. Marks go to the board, work goes to the moderator. What subject?

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curlew · 16/08/2013 09:16

Help- I wonder if it's safe to say the subject....oh, what the hell. It's music. And it's the composition bit that hasn't gone.

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curlew · 16/08/2013 09:19

So the bread should have had his marks anyway and it shouldn't hav made any difference? .

It sounds as if they just didn't send his marks in at all, and the moderating thing is irrelevant. How very odd.

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curlew · 16/08/2013 09:21

Actually, it sounds worse than that, doesn't it? They submitted his marks, were specifically asked for a sample and didn't send it.

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TheFallenMadonna · 16/08/2013 09:23

I think the question your friend needs to asking the school is can this module be resubmitted next year. AS UMS contribute to A2 overall grades, and so it is essential that this is clarified now. in my subjects (Sciences), we can enter any module, including centre assessed components, again.

Is this actually centre assessed, ie school marks, moderator verifies, or is it done in school, but marked externally, like an exam?

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TheFallenMadonna · 16/08/2013 09:25

Need to clarify what is meant by coursework I suppose, as it means different things in different subjects. But practically, the important thing is to check on whether the work can be submitted next year.

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curlew · 16/08/2013 09:55

Thank you. I'll pass it on. and fight the urge to go in to bat on his behalf!

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