If we are going to build back better and not make things worse, it needs to start with our children’s future – EHRC Chair
Equality and Human Rights Commission
To better understand any disparities for different protected groups, Ofqual must publish a full breakdown of the differences between teacher assessed grades and the final grade.
Equality and Human Rights Commission Chief Executive, Rebecca Hilsenrath, said:
“The pandemic has hit the younger generation hard.
Education has been particularly disrupted, with potentially life-changing consequences for young people, particularly ethnic minority and disabled children. Many of these children come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
If we are going to build back better and not make things worse, it needs to start with our children’s future.
We have been clear with Ofqual that they must consider the equality impacts of all their actions and mitigate against any potential negative affect on these groups.
“Ofqual should be clear about the impact of the algorithm used in the standardisation model and the steps taken to remove bias and take into account equality.
To better understand any disparities for different protected groups, Ofqual must publish a full breakdown of the differences between teacher assessed grades and the final grade. Students who have been downgraded must be able to appeal directly if they believe their grades are unfair.
We will continue to discuss this with Ofqual and consider all our powers so that ethnic minority and disabled children, for example, are treated fairly in this process.”
