Oldham Hulme Grammar School Principal hails A level results despite backdrop of "continuing concerns" over public health

Date published: 13 August 2020


The Principal of Oldham Hulme Grammar School says this year's A level results are an impressive set of grades, despite this year being "a year unlike any other"

Craig Mairs says that the overall picture at OHGS was a positive one.

"41% of our grades are at A*/A level and 66% at A*/B, with 22% of the cohort achieving at least three grade As. There are many superb individual sets of results with our top performer being awarded 5x A* grades and two other students 3x A* and 1 A.

"However, at Oldham Hulme Grammar School we teach individual students, not an overall set of statistics and we care deeply about their well-being and success."

This years grades have been awarded by a combination of school centre assessed grades and statistical modelling devised by Ofqual.

Nationally, there is growing anger among some schools, colleges and students, after nearly 40% of A-level grades awarded  were lower than teachers' predictions.  

Mr Mairs continued: "We recognise that it has not been easy for the government and Ofqual to design a system which would balance fairness to this year’s students with having comparability with previous year’s examination results.

"It has been clear for some time that any statistical model used by the exam boards would produce some individual results which do not reflect what those students deserve or would have achieved, and today we share the frustration of students who find themselves in this position.

"The uncertainty that students have faced throughout this process is now compounded by late announcements surrounding changes to appeals and the use of mock examinations."

The Principal added that the school would be doing all it can to assist students to challenge their grades if they do not reflect their expected performance.


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