A “huge” number of appeals over grades are expected in schools and colleges this summer, the leader of the ASCL heads’ union has said, TES reports.
Geoff Barton says some parents are threatening to take legal action over grades and expressed concerns that families are putting pressure on teachers.
Mr Barton, the general secretary of the ASCL, told MPs that the union is giving legal advice to members on how to cope with parents who say they are ready to legally contest grades.
Addressing the Commons Education Select Committee, Mr Barton said: “I think we will see a huge number of appeals beyond the priority appeals.
“And again we are already seeing examples of some parents exerting some pressure on some people, saying, ‘My daughter needs certain grades to get to university – if they don’t get them, I’ve got a lawyer lined up.’
“That’s not a caricature. We have got that, we are giving legal advice to our members.”
The comments come as Alex Hutchinson, the head of James Allen’s Girls School in London said that some grade inflation this year was inevitable and fewer pupils will have disappointing results out of sync with what was expected on them.
It was important, she said, to make sure results days in August were “as normal as possible” and pupils were given credit for their hard work.