Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey refuses to release its GCSE results
00:00, 20 August 2015
updated: 12:33, 20 August 2015
Two Kent schools have been unable to reveal their GCSE results after a number of exam papers had to be sent back to be re-marked.
Some pupils at both the Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey and Tonbridge School were not able to collect their grades due to the error.
In Tonbridge, students left without their English Literature coursework or German result after two separate exam boards sent out incorrect grades.
The papers will now have to be sent for re-marking and it's unclear how long the process will take.
Meanwhile, the Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey refused to provide any overall information on how it performed until the issue is resolved.
It says it is “unable” to accurately report the figures due to a large number of exam papers being sent to be re-marked.
Of those being challenged, the international GCSE, or iGCSE, in English especially features and the academy says a number of other schools across the country have had similar issues.
The outcome of the re-sits could affect the final overall percentage of pupils gaining at least five A* to C grades, including maths and English, by as much as 10%.
A school spokesman said: “At the current time the academy is unable to accurately report overall figures for its GCSE results. In common with a significant number of other schools across the UK, a number of exam papers are being re-marked, especially in iGCSE English.”
It comes as the head teacher of another Kent school criticises the education system for failing non-academic pupils.
Why a head of a high-achieving school thinks GCSEs should be scrapped
Canterbury High School pricipal Phil Karnavas said: "The Canterbury High School has not done as well as I had hoped but will, I suspect, not be the only non selective school in this situation.
"The system seems only to recognise and, therefore, value academic ability. Thus, in it those students whose abilities are academic will do better than those students whose abilities are not.
"Those schools which select exclusively on academic ability will do better academically than those schools that do not."
Last year, 32.2% of Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey pupils gained at least five A* to Cs including English and maths. This was a 5% drop from 2013 but was said not to be a like-for-like comparison due to an overhaul of the exams system.
Although overall figures were not divulged, some of the star performers picked up their results on Thursday. Among them was Emily Pickett who was delighted with her grades.
The 16-year-old Halfway resident was awarded an A* in philosophy and ethics and also picked up four As and three Bs among the 10 subjects she took.
She said: “I’m really happy with my results. I wasn’t expecting what I got. I’m doing A-levels in psychology, sociology, biology and maths and I hope to go to university.”
Another star performer was Charlotte King, 16, who achieved grades between A and C, including As in English, English literature and French.
She now plans to study English Literature, maths, biology and psychology A-levels at the academy.
The Minster resident said: “The A in French was surprising. I’m really happy. I thought I wouldn’t meet the criteria for sixth form.
“There’s a lot of pressure to do well and I did try to beat my sister. “She’s two years older and at university. I can’t remember what she got in some of them but I think I’ve beaten her.”
Also happy with his grades was 16-year-old Thomas Beart, of Queenborough, who wants to pursue a career as a firefighter.
He said: “Overall my results are good, Bs and Cs. The buildup was always nerve-wracking and scary but all you can do is try your hardest.
“I feel relieved but I think I could have done better in a few of them.”
He now hopes to go to Canterbury College Swale Campus followed by Canterbury College to study public service.
Executive principal David Millar said: “I would like to congratulate all the students on their achievements. It is clear from these results that many have worked hard throughout their school career and are reaping the rewards today.
“It is a great platform from which to start their post-16 studies.”
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