Dear Parents and Students,
The release of Cambridge results on 11 August has generated mixed responses from key stakeholders of our school community. Many students have expressed satisfaction with the outcome, and Merryland would like to congratulate them for their accomplishment. However, the general mood this year is sombre, and celebrations if any, are marred by the disappointment of students, parents, and teachers who collectively express scepticism, disappointment and frustration at the methods that have been employed to slash the final grades awarded to some candidates.
To show solidarity with those students who have been most impacted, we have expressed our deep disapproval and dissatisfaction to Cambridge and raised the following concerns regarding:
- The utter lack of sensibility regarding the unique circumstances that have been created by the pandemic, and a failure to understand how this could have affected students and their families.
- The way in which students have been turned into data and the ‘ruthless’ application of a mathematical formula to determine their final grades.
- The universal use of the same formula in which every variable negatively impacts a high achieving school like Merryland.
- The lack of respect for the professional judgement of teachers who are in the best position to provide an accurate assessment of their students.
- The request for evidence only for quality assurance and not for validating the grades predicted by teachers.
- The inconsistency in the standardisation of grades where for example, a predicted ‘C’ has been relegated to a ‘E’ or ‘U’.
- A thorough disregard for the progression of some A-Level students who now stare at the bleak prospect of losing a university seat or scholarship.
Much will depend on how and when Cambridge responds to the concerns raised by schools around the world. Perhaps their update on 18 August will provide some clarity, but this fiasco has prompted us to seriously consider if this is the opportune time to transition to a more flexible and student-friendly exam board.
We reaffirm that the grades awarded by Cambridge are probably not a true reflection of what many students could have attained had they been allowed to write the exams.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you want to speak to a member of staff; need emotional support or counselling; require letters of recommendation for your university applications; or are considering re-taking an exam in November.
Kind regards,
Subha Clifford
Principal
