Centre re-marking - school not letting dd opt out

[CoffeeCrazedMama]

Dd is studying A2 at a girls' comprehensive. She has received outstanding marks in English, and is on course to achieve an A*. Others in her class did less well in the recent course work and now the teacher wants to send everything back to OCR and demand a centre remark.

Dd is hysterical as she is terrified that she will end up having marks taken off her (she scored mid 90s). The teacher pretty much told her her attitude was selfish and unfair on the other girls. (That'll be the same girls who mess about when the teacher isn't there, so quiet study is impossible, never read the set texts on time, and on past performance wouldn't spit on dd if she were on fire .)

Any one know whether we have a leg to stand on to stop this? Dd killing herself to get these grades, and will stress out massively if her work is sent away; even if the grade ends up unchanged I don't want her having that stress in the interim, when she has so much other work to do.

[CoffeeCrazedMama]

Just realised I didn't make it clear that for a centre remark, the whole 'moderated group' ie class, has to be resubmitted. Cheaper apparently than individual submissions.

[MmeBlueberry]

Don't you have to sign an agreement for this to happen? If so, then don't! If you DD has secured high marks, then by all means, dig your heels in.

OCR are pretty notorious for moderating down, and scaling all candidates' work from a given centre. I would resist, if at all possible, if I felt my DD had achieved the marks she deserved. The other candidates can always do the module again in June.

[DinahRod]

If the school reject the entire cohorts' marks then no parental permission is required.

Students might be informed to explain why their grades are delayed or why they are, en masse, lower than expected (useful to put on uni application) but it's not something that should causes stress or something that they really know about. Am a bit mystified why dd would be so aware of this process.

Doubt that your dd's marks will change, unless the whole group have been under-marked and in which case they all will increase, because the dept believe they have been ungenerous, not over generous.

What the school probably have done is called for a couple of the papers of candidates who should have done better. On that basis they should then have an idea whether a wholesale appeal is worthwhile, unless they are so wide of the mark as to be ridiculous. Dd might even get full marks.

[EvilTwins]

Phone the school and ask to speak to the head of English. I can understand why DD is upset, but speaking directly to the teacher who is making the decision ought to mean that you get the full story without the added emotion. You can then ask if you are allowed to withdraw DD from this.

Presumably the teacher wants ALL the marks put up. If the moderated group (not necessarily the whole class) marks are changed they will ALL move in the same direction - you won't get a case where some move up and some move down. I doubt very much whether the teacher would send the work off for a re-mark unless he/she is very sure that the marks will go up.

Speak to the Head of Dept as soon as you can.

[CoffeeCrazedMama]

Thanks everyone for your replies - all really helpful. According to dd, the less good pieces of work were in the view of the teacher (also head of dept) more harshly marked than the good ones (ie dd's). They got the marks on Thursday, but teacher announced this today.

Was writing to her (I'm so much more confident in writing than on the phone!) but in the light of comments here I think will be best to speak to her directly - though getting hold of the teachers is always very difficult.

[violetqueen]

CCmama - so sympathise about phoning .
Could you email and ask teacher to suggest a convienient time for you to have telephone conversation ?
And write down what you want to say /discuss ?
And then be like me today ,endlessly waiting for reply to email ,rushing to loo all the time with nervous stomach.
Pathetic I know .

[CoffeeCrazedMama]

Violetqueen - we must be twins!

An update - I was leaving calling the school until after classes were over and now dd has texted to say panic over - school has decided just to submit the ones they were actually worried about. phew.

Could have really done without the stress, as could dd who's arms are now covered with excema. And all the time I spent crafting well worded arguments (to avoid grammatical faux pas when addressing head of English!).

Thank you all so much for your really helpful suggestions. Neither dh nor myself grew up here so we are constantly bewildered by the English state school system! (Eg who were the parents that didn't think GCSEs mattered if you were staying on for A-level?

[violetqueen]

Hi twin - I had given up on expecting school to phone me .
Remembered that what they do when I want to discuss something is call son in and have discussion with him .
So I never really know what's been said .
Anyway - that's what they did and our panic is over as well ( won't bore with details ).
Good on you for raising it in first place ,and your arguments would have been fine - they don't have to be grammatically perfect .
Teachers are human beings and they make mistakes as well .
I just hate them because I know I'm not a perfect parent and they make me feel vulnerable to criticism( implied / suspected ) about that .
Good luck .
.