BARROW Hall College at Great Sankey High School has been left 'outraged' after a large number of pupils' grades were adjusted downwards.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, students were not able to sit their exams, so grades have been awarded based on a combination of their mock exam results, classwork and assessments.

These grades, calculated by teachers and centres, were then moderated by the exam board, depending on how the school has performed overall in recent years.

Rhianne Bond, head of sixth form, said all teachers were disappointed and upset at how many grades had been lowered.

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She said: "As in every year, the vast majority of students have achieved the grades they need to secure their places at university or their higher level apprenticeships.

"The college is however, bitterly disappointed, indeed outraged, at the number of grades adjusted downwards following the algorithm implemented by OFQUAL."

A significant number of grades at the Great Sankey site are well below the teacher and centre agreed grades (CAGs), as well as mock exam results.

The college plans to submit an appeal on behalf of the whole cohort based on the premise that the college's historical data does not reflect the cohort's ability, changes in college and departmental leadership, nor improvements made over the last two years.

Rhianne added: "We are, of course, supporting our students in every way we can, including contacting universities and clearing to share the CAG and mock grades and asking them to hold places while the appeals are processed, and waiving fees for any who chose to resit in the autumn term.

"Despite our obvious frustrations, we are incredibly proud of our year 13 students for their remarkable resilience and strength of character they have demonstrated over the last few months.

"They are a credit to themselves, their families and the school, and we will continue to support them in the coming months as they begin their studies and careers."