Summer 2020 Examinations – Appeals Process

1. The Head of Centre believes an administrative error was made in submitting the centre assessment data to WJEC.
2. The Head of Centre believes that WJEC introduced an error into the centre assessment data submitted to it.
3. The Head of Centre believes that a result issued by WJEC was incorrectly allocated and / or communicated to a learner.
4. That there was some other procedural failing on the part of WJEC.

The grades awarded this summer will, where they are the Centre Assessment Grades, be based on holistic professional judgements made by centres using a range of information. The consultation documents were clear, as were many of the responses, that teachers were best placed, indeed uniquely placed, to make these judgements. On that basis, WJEC could not evaluate those judgements and adjudicate on decisions outside of their control. This reason remains despite the changes in approach to awarding qualifications this summer.

Concerns about Bias or discrimination

Where learners have genuine concerns that their centre has exhibited bias or discrimination of one form or another, the learner should raise the matter with their centre.

In the first instance, learners should ask their centre to check if they made an error. If the grade was submitted correctly, they may wish to make a complaint that would need to be investigated by the centre itself. Guidance on School Complaints Procedures is available from Welsh Government.

In cases where that may not be appropriate, they could also pass such evidence on to WJEC who may then decide to investigate the matter as alleged malpractice by the centre. Where such a complaint is upheld following an investigation, WJEC may correct results. It is important to note that the burden of proof will lie with the complainant, and any such complaints would need to be accompanied with substantial evidence to support the case. Given the severity of such allegations, we anticipate that such cases will arise only exceptionally.