More clarity on 2021 exam grade plans needed, says RSS

The Royal Statistical Society has called for greater transparency around the awarding of this year’s exam grades, following the cancellation of GCSE and A level exams for the second year running.

This year, the government has indicated that grades will be awarded by teachers again, with no statistical process to adjust them.

However, the RSS is concerned that this year’s plans put quality control at risk. Responding to the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR)’s review of how last year’s statistical model was developed to grade exam results, it states: "Our concern is that last year, too much weight was placed on a statistical model – with a grade inflation ceiling that was too low – to make estimates of individual grades. The plans for this year risk a laissez-faire attitude in school processes, with only vague references to how statistical data could be used to inform monitoring and quality control. Neither approach is right."

"Our response calls on the qualification regulators and the exam boards to make clear how they plan to take a robust approach to using school historical statistical data to quality-assure school grading processes before results are announced – drawing on the lessons set out in the OSR’s review."

Sharon Witherspoon, the RSS vice-president for education and statistical literacy, said: "Gavin Williamson has proclaimed that this year’s adjustment process will not use any algorithms. While it is good that some lessons have been learnt from last year, this risks missing the point. As the Office for Statistics Regulation review suggests, the problem was not that there is no role for algorithms – but if they are used, they must be fit for purpose."

Read the RSS' full response to the OSR review and its statement regarding the grade awarding process for 2021.