School Exam Appeals Solicitors

Receiving exam results that you do not believe reflect your ability or that of your child can be distressing. If you are concerned that there have been errors in the marking process or there has been unfair treatment and that you or your child are entitled to a higher grade, it is open to you to make an appeal. Our school exam appeals solicitors can advise and represent you in the process, taking steps to have the marks reassessed.

Having strong exam results can be important for the next stage of education or work and if you feel that better grades should have been awarded, you are advised to speak to an expert.

At IBB Law, our specialist education law solicitors have years of experience appealing GCSE grades, A-Level grades and other school exam and academic assessment results. We will talk through the way in which matters will be dealt with and answer any questions you may have. We will make sure that you understand the implications of taking action and that you have the information you need to make the right decision.

To learn about our experience supporting clients with issues relating to appealing GCSE grades, appealing A-Level grades and dealing with other school exam disputes, please read our Case Summaries and our more detailed Case Studies for the full range of work we do.

How can IBB Law’s education law solicitors help you with school exam appeals?

Advice on appealing exam results

It is important to understand the process if you are considering challenging school exam results. Our expert education solicitors can discuss your circumstances with you and advise you on the best course of action.

Where necessary, we will represent you in the exam appeals process, ensuring the correct procedure is followed and that the authorities re-examine the marking and moderation and rectify any clerical errors.

For expert assistance in school exam disputes, please get in touch.

Common questions about school exam appeals

Can I appeal my school exam results?

If you believe that your school exam results should have been higher than they were, you have the option to appeal. If the results mean that you might miss out on your chosen college or university, making an appeal could be the right choice.

It is important to bear in mind that there are deadlines in which to appeal, so you should deal with the situation as soon as possible.

How to appeal GCSE results

You can initially ask for a copy of the exam paper. This is done by requesting that the school’s exam officer contact the exam board.

There are three checks that you can ask for once you have seen the exam paper.

Clerical check of the mark – this is a request to the exam board to conduct a review of the exam marking. Your school or college can ask for this to be carried out, or you can contact the exam board directly if you did not do your exam through a school or college.

This involves the exam board looking at whether there are any mistakes in the marking. If there are, these will be rectified. This could result in a change in the grade awarded, and this could be either upwards or downwards.

Marking review – where an exam board official will check the marking for mistakes and look at the examiner’s use of the mark scheme. If an error is made in the marking of a question, a reviewer will remark it.

Moderation check – looking at whether the examiner has dealt with the assessment criteria correctly.

If you still believe that an error exists, the next stage is to ask for an exam board officer to look at the matter. This could be a further examination of the moderation or marking or a procedural error.

You can also ask for the exam board to look at issues such as the imposition of a penalty for malpractice, the failure to allow access arrangements or the failure to make sufficient special considerations of difficulties faced by the candidate.

You can ask your child’s school to request an appeal hearing if you are still not satisfied with the response you receive.

If your appeal is not initially successful, you have the option to ask for a hearing. This involves appearing before a panel to put your case. They will hear what you have to say and decide whether or not to uphold your appeal. In some situations, they may partially uphold your appeal.

When an appeal is successful, the exam board will take the appropriate action, such as increasing the grade and providing a new certificate.

If, after going through this process, you believe that your case has not been dealt with correctly, you can ask the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations, or Ofqual, to review the exam board’s actions. Ofqual will not change the grade awarded, but they can notify the exam board if they failed to correctly handle your appeal.

How to appeal A-Level results

A similar process is followed when appealing A-Level grades. If there is urgency because of a university application, you can ask for a priority review and notify the university that you have done this. They may decline to hold a place for you, in which case you would need to look for a place elsewhere through the clearing process or try applying for a place for next year.

For more information, see our blog on how to appeal your A-Level results.

What are the grounds for appealing GCSE or A-Level grades?

The grounds for appealing GCSE grades and A-Level grades are as follows:

• Clerical error
• Marking error
• Moderation error
• A penalty was unfairly imposed
• Access arrangements were necessary but were not allowed
• Special considerations should have been made but were not

Is it worth appealing GCSE & A-Level results?

It is important to consider the implications of appealing GCSE and A-Level results. In some cases, a mark could be lowered when a review is carried out.

If you need advice on the best course of action, one of our expert school exam appeals lawyers will talk through your situation and discuss your options with you.

How do I get GCSE & A-Level papers re-marked?

Your school can ask the exam board to carry out a review of the marking. If errors are found, the questions can be re-marked.

What is the role of the exam board in grade appeals?

First requests for appeals are made to exam boards. This is done through the school or college if you sat your exam there, or directly to the exam board if you sat the exam as an independent candidate.

The exam board also conducts hearings if these are requested.

What if the exam board rejects my appeal?

If an appeal is rejected by the exam board, a hearing can be requested. This is an in-person hearing where you have the chance to present your case.

We can advise you and ensure that your case is robust, giving you the best chance of success.

How long does the school exam appeals process take?

The time taken for a school exam appeal depends on the exam board and their current workload. It routinely takes around 20 days, with a priority marking review taking around 15 days.

Once a marking review has been carried out, you will usually have 30 days to request an appeal. The exam board will generally provide this within six weeks.

If the appeal is not successful and you want to request a hearing, this should be done within 14 days of receiving the decision. You will then be provided with a hearing date.

How can IBB Law help with school exam appeals?

Our experienced education law team advise and represent clients in school exam appeals. We will discuss your case with you and check that you have all the information you need to make the right decision.

We know that the process can be very stressful, and we will make sure that you have our support and that we are available to talk through any concerns you may have.

If you need to take matters to an appeal, we will ensure that you have the best possible evidence in support of your case. Where your matter ends in a hearing, we can help you prepare and ensure that you are able to present your case effectively.

For more information, see our page on education legal advice for parents.

What others say about IBB’s specialist education solicitors

“We needed an urgent consultation about an educational issue we had with the school. We were very impressed by Celia Whittuck, with whom we had the consultation; we were able to ask questions and discuss our situation, and we were very happy with the way Celia Whittuck handled our conversation. We felt listened to and that she provided the help we required, thank you.”

My matter was dealt and over with quite quickly with a happy outcome.”

“The experience was excellent. I was able to sort out my issue in less than a month with the help of the team at IBB Law. Right from the beginning of contacting the firm, I was provided with all the support and communication with the team was also very smooth. I am more than happy to have contacted the firm. I would definitely recommend IBB Law to anyone that is going through a similar situation as mine.”

“We can’t thank you enough for your expert assistance throughout this case and we particularly appreciated the clarity and kindness you showed in every communication. The matter could have escalated very unpleasantly except for your intervention, for which we are extremely grateful.”

“From the outset, they listened and guided me through my options. I have been struck by the consistency in their process, their professionalism and empathy. Their strengths have definitely been in their willingness to collaborate with other legal professionals in order to give you the best possible chance of success. They don’t shy away from meeting online, so I really feel understood and cared for.”

“Very personal service where nothing is too much trouble. Prompt in all responses and no stone left unturned to advise thoroughly, ensuring the best decision is made. Impressive high standards in all aspects of service. I can’t rate them highly enough.”

“I believe IBB Law Education Team have shown themselves to be true to their word. They have collaborated with me in terms of what to expect at each stage of my case. Their practice is transparent and open, and they are clear and concise regarding the fees.”

“IBB offer unrivalled skill and expertise when it comes to education law matters. They are very well-placed to represent students in all types of public and private law claims against universities. They also do a lot of work in the school sector, in particular when representing parents in claims against independent schools. They are knowledgeable in the main areas of law that cut across these and associated areas of the education sector. Given their level of experience in these areas, they also have a very good practical understanding of the education sector and are geared towards achieving good practical outcomes for their clients.”

“The gold standard team for higher education work. IBB is one of my main instructing solicitors and I always feel completely confident that they will do an excellent job for the client. The cases are meticulously prepared, and they are very client-focused and practical in their approach.”

“Very empathetic and attentive to each individual client’s needs. I felt heard and understood for the first time by professionals. The team was easy and quick to communicate with and the whole process made me feel at ease.”

“Celia Whittuck is a star individual. She has gained considerable experience in education law and has excellent strategic litigation strategy, particularly for civil claims against independent schools and universities, and internal complaints and appeal processes in relation to these institutions. She puts the client’s outcome at the heart of what she does and has a track record for achieving good results.”

“Celia Whittuck is a phenomenally dedicated solicitor and a real delight to work with.”

“Focused and determined education team.”

“Celia Whittuck has a growing reputation in the area.”

“Celia Whittuck has an excellent breadth of knowledge and is very responsive.”

“Celia has taken a particular interest in ensuring that the appropriate educational outcomes are achieved. Her commitment has been unwavering.”

“Celia Whittuck has been helpful, understanding, respectful and responsive.”

“Hi Celia. To say I am so thankful and happy with this outcome is an understatement.  The best best news. Thank you again.”

The Education Law Team at IBB is ranked by Legal 500. Legal 500 describe themselves as the leading guide to law firms and solicitors across the UK.

Celia Whittuck at IBB is ranked by Chambers and Partners. Chambers and Partners say of themselves: “Our rankings are the most thoroughly researched and independent on the market. Each one is assessed by our dedicated team of experienced researchers using our unrivalled research methodology, which includes tens of thousands of one-to-one interviews every year.

“If you are buying legal services in the UK and need reliable recommendations on the best law firms and solicitors, our rankings, editorial and analysis will provide you with the information you need to make the most well-informed decision when it matters.”

Call today to discuss how we can help you appeal school exam results

To find out more about how we can help with appealing A-Level grades, appealing GSCE grades or dealing with other school exam disputes, please contact Kinjal or Rachael, our education law legal administrators, on 01895 207 961 , or by email at educationteam@ibblaw.co.uk.

Kinjal and Rachael can explain how we can help you and also direct you to our online booking suite so you can book a consultation meeting with one of our specialist education solicitors at a day and time convenient to you.