(Exams officers) What is the process for summer 2020 appeals?

For the summer 2020 results, standard post-results services will not be available. Instead, there will be a new appeals process, which consists of two stages: 

• Initial review – If the application is accepted, this involves a check of the relevant data, procedure or process.
• Independent review – If a centre is not satisfied with the outcome of the initial review, you have 14 calendar days from the outcome to request an independent review. This will be carried out by an independent decision maker.

We will aim to complete the initial reviews and independent reviews as quickly as we can and within 42 calendar days of receiving the applications. We’ll prioritise all appeals where a university place is at stake and we intend to complete these initial reviews by the 7 September UCAS entry deadline.

What is an initial review and an independent review?

An initial review is the first stage in the summer 2020 appeals process for general qualifications, Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals.

We will check to make sure the correct process and/or data has been used in calculating your candidates’ grades. Where there’s an error, we will put it right.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the initial review, you can request an independent review. This is carried out by someone not previously involved who looks at all of the evidence of your appeal again to check that:

• Procedures have been followed
• The correct data has been used in calculating results
• The correct result has been issued to your candidates(s).

Who can appeal?

Centres can submit one appeal per qualification (or unit for Cambridge Technicals). 

Appeals will usually be raised on behalf of a whole cohort of candidates but may exceptionally be raised for individuals or small groups instead.

Parents, carers and candidates cannot submit appeals directly for general qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels.

I am a private candidate, can I submit an appeal myself?

Private candidates cannot submit appeals for general qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels. However, it is possible for private candidates to submit appeals for vocational or technical qualifications, such as Cambridge Nationals or Cambridge Technicals.

What can you appeal?

You can submit an appeal where the Head of Centre considers:

• the awarding body has not applied procedures consistently, or procedures have not been followed properly and fairly; or
• the awarding body has used the wrong data in calculating results; or
• the result generated has been incorrectly issued to one or more candidates.

More information on the grounds for appeal please see JCQ and OCR guidance documents on www.ocr.org.uk/administration/appeals-2020/

What is the deadline to submit an appeal?

The deadline to submit an appeal for an initial review is 17 September. Appeals cannot be submitted before results day. Once you have received the outcome of the initial review, you have 14 calendar days to request an independent review.

How do I make an appeal for general qualifications, Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals?

You can submit an appeal via OCR Interchange. Please see JCQ and OCR guidance documents on www.ocr.org.uk/administration/appeals-2020/

Log in to Interchange and click on ‘Post results 2020’ and then ‘Make appeals’ in the left hand menu. You will need the Centre Administrator role (usually the exams officer) to access this page.

Click on the relevant link to submit an appeal for the the qualification. There is one link for general qualifications and Cambridge Nationals and another for Cambridge Technicals.

You can then enter the details on the screen and click ‘Submit’ to send us your appeal.

What do I need before I can submit an appeal?

Before you can submit an appeal, the Head of Centre must complete the Head of Centre declaration, a sample declaration is provided on the OCR website. As part of the appeal, there is a box to tick to indicate that the Head of Centre signed the declaration and agrees to the appeal and the payment of any fees.

The declaration does not need to be provided as part of the appeal request, but your centre must have a record of it in case it is requested as part of the appeal process.  Please see the JCQ Booklet and OCR booklet here www.ocr.org.uk/administration/appeals-2020/ for details of where you may wish to obtain candidate consent.

What information needs to be provided in the appeal?

You will need to provide the following:

• Head of Centre’s name and email address
• The reason for the appeal from a dropdown list
• Qualifications details
• Candidate details – to select the whole cohort use the ‘select all on this page’ button on each page of candidates
• Reasons for the appeal – Please state if this is a whole cohort appeal and for which candidates (if any) consent has been received. You should also include why you believe you have grounds for appeal.
• Evidence – You may attach up to three files of evidence (see below)
• Use the tick box to indicate if any of the candidates have a higher education pending.

What evidence do I need to supply?

You will need to upload evidence to support your appeals.

The following file formats are accepted: (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .pptx, .pdf) and a maximum of 3 files can be uploaded with the appeal request.

Files must not be greater than 5MB in size. If you need to submit files larger than this, please submit your appeal first then contact the Customer Support Centre for further guidance. Please quote the reference you receive in your acknowledgement email.

Who will OCR liaise with about the appeal?

We will liaise with the named contact on the appeal application/letter which in most cases will be the exams officer. We will also email confirmation to the Head of Centre as well. Correspondence that contains sensitive data will be sent securely via Kiteworks, our secure file sharing system.

What happens when I submit an appeal?

Once you have submitted a request for an initial review you will receive an automated acknowledgement email. This wil contain a confirmation of the details of your request and your request reference. Please keep this safe as this is your record of the request.

Once we have completed the initial review, we will email you the outcome. Any updated results will be available to view within the Results area of Interchange.

What do I do if I don’t get the outcome of an appeal by the autumn series entry deadine?

Please make the entry for the candidate. If the appeal is upheld, you can withdraw the entry and receive a full refund.

Is there a priority service for candidates who have a pending higher education place?

We do not offer a priority service. However, if you let us know when you submit your appeal there are candidates with a place in higher education at risk, we will do what we can to complete the appeal as quickly as possible.

How long does each stage take?

We aim to complete the initial review within 42 calendar days and aim to resolve a request for an independent review within 42 calendar days.

How much does an appeal cost?

Our fees apply to general and vocational qualification appeals this summer. Schools and colleges will not be charged for appeals, if they’re successful.

• For an initial review, we’ll charge £9.50 per student where no change is made or if schools and colleges made errors in their data submissions. This flexible option covers all grounds for appeal and is capped at a total of £95, regardless of the number of students involved. Charging a small fee per student for an initial review will help us to support those students who need it most; it will only cover a proportion of our administrative costs.
• For an independent review, we will charge a fee of £150 if an appeal is not upheld. No charge will be made if the appeal is upheld.

We will provide all data – such as prior attainment – free of charge.

These fees will apply to unsuccessful appeals. They will also apply when a school or college submitted data that was wrong. We’ll only invoice schools and colleges after the outcome of an appeal is confirmed and after schools and colleges have received our rebate from their entry fees.

The Head of Centre is not happy with the outcome of the initial review, what are our options?

The next step is to request an independent review. You must do this within 14 calendar days of the outcome of the intitial review by emailing the Appeals team at 2020Appeals@ocr.org.uk

Can I give candidates the grade and their rank order position?

From results day, candidates can request to see their centre assessment grades and rank orders, until then centre assessment grades and rank orders are confidential. Please see the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) guidance.

What process do I need for when a candidate is not happy with the grade given by their centre?

Candidates may ask you to check that the information you provided to us was correct. They may also make a complaint if they have evidence of bias or discrimination against them.

This is for you to investigate in the first instance. If they have clear evidence of bias and/or discrimination that impacted on their centre assessment grades or rank orders, students can raise their concerns directly with us to investigate.

What internal processes do I need to have in place when a candidate challenges a centre decision not to appeal or seek further information?

You must have in place your own appropriate arrangements for candidates who wish to seek further information from us, or wish to appeal the decision you have taken not to submit an appeal on their behalf.

How do I make an appeal as a private candidate?

You should request an application from by emailing 2020appeals@ocr.org.uk.  You will need to pay for the appeal and then submit the form with your evidence and payment confirmation.

Private candidates cannot submit appeals for general qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels. However, it is possible for private candidates to submit appeals for vocational or technical qualifications, such as Cambridge Nationals or Cambridge Technicals.