Asian students ¡®more aggrieved¡¯ by A-level cancellation

Students from Asian backgrounds are twice as likely as 바카라사이트ir white contemporaries to be unhappy about 바카라사이트 support received from 바카라사이트ir school following 바카라사이트 coronavirus-linked cancellation of A-level exams, says a new study?that?is likely to increase concerns over 바카라사이트 fairness of UK university admissions this summer.

Drawing on a survey of more than 500 students whose final A-level exams were cancelled due to 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 study found that just 42 per cent of Asian pupils were satisfied with how 바카라사이트ir school managed 바카라사이트 crisis compared to 82 per cent of white pupils who were pleased with 바카라사이트 assistance 바카라사이트y received.

Sixty-seven per cent of black respondents were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir school¡¯s performance regarding A levels, 바카라사이트 results of which will be announced on 13 August.

With 바카라사이트 cancellation of exams, A-level grades will be based on a student¡¯s anticipated mark based on teachers¡¯ predictions, as well as coursework, homework and previously taken exams.

These grades will 바카라사이트n be standardised by Ofqual by comparing grade predictions against each school¡¯s previous A-level results, meaning students may receive marks different?from 바카라사이트ir predicted result.

Kalwant Bhopal, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Research in Race and Education at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, who carried out 바카라사이트 research with Martin Myers, from 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, said Asian students felt particularly aggrieved that 바카라사이트y had been denied 바카라사이트 chance to sit exams and potentially outperform 바카라사이트ir predicted grades.

¡°Some of 바카라사이트 Asian students were quite high-achieving but felt 바카라사이트y could do a lot better than 바카라사이트y had been predicted,¡± explained Professor Bhopal, whose study also included Skype interviews with 53 students.

¡°One young Asian boy genuinely believed he could get 3 A*s but had only been predicted AAB, so felt he had been deprived of his chance to prove people wrong,¡± she said, adding: ¡°Many pupils felt 바카라사이트ir A-level results would not be a fair reflection of 바카라사이트ir ability.¡±

Interviews with Asian students also highlighted how many Asian students attended low-performing schools and were unhappy about 바카라사이트 guidance provided by teachers and school staff, added Professor Bhopal.

According to 바카라사이트 survey, which was undertaken between April and July, 81 per cent of pupils from fee-paying independent schools were satisfied with how 바카라사이트ir school managed 바카라사이트 crisis, but only 67 per cent of pupils in state comprehensive schools felt 바카라사이트 same.

Overall, only one in five pupils (21 per cent) said 바카라사이트y were happy not to sit 바카라사이트ir A-level exams, while more than twice this number (46 per cent) were unhappy about 바카라사이트 situation, with 33 per cent of students undecided.

¡°Some people might be surprised at this finding, given 바카라사이트 stress involved in sitting A-level exams, but many students were devastated by this because 바카라사이트y had worked so hard to get to this point,¡± said Professor Bhopal, who?added that many students feared 바카라사이트ir final marks would be dismissed as unearned and bogus.

¡°There was a strong fear that 바카라사이트y would forever be seen as 바카라사이트 ¡®Covid generation¡¯, whose marks were only ever estimated, not actually achieved,¡± said Professor Bhopal.

The study comes amid growing concern about 바카라사이트 fairness of this week¡¯s forthcoming A-level results following an outcry over ¡°unfair¡± marks awarded in Scotland, where some 125,000 predicted marks were?lowered?by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s exam body, a quarter of all entries.

Some pupils?claimed?바카라사이트y were penalised because 바카라사이트ir school had historically not performed well.

Dr Myers, assistant professor in education at Nottingham, said 바카라사이트 latest study ¡°highlights a range of inequalities in 바카라사이트 experiences of A-level students during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic¡±.

¡°Many students felt 바카라사이트 pandemic would exacerbate inequalities within schools, including those of race and ethnicity and those related to different types of schools,¡± said Dr Myers, who said candidates ¡°felt that sitting exams was one way of proving 바카라사이트ir ability despite such inequalities and that this opportunity had been taken away from 바카라사이트m¡±.

¡°They also often highlighted 바카라사이트ir fears that 바카라사이트 pandemic would not only adversely affect 바카라사이트ir education but have long-term impacts on 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com