This year, schools might find themselves inundated with subject access requests (SARs) in the wake of GCSE and A-level exam results. But what are students requesting? And what are the rules? We take a look at what you can, and can’t, share with students.

What are students requesting?

This year, in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, all GCSE and A-Level grades have been calculated without students having sat any exams. In place of written exams or coursework, teachers have provided exam boards with Centre Assessment Grades (CAGs) and a rank order placement. 

In order to avoid grade inflation, Ofqual will be standardising these results to ensure that grades are not inflated in 2020. Using this data, plus the centre’s historical exam performance, GCSE and A-level grades will be calculated.

If grades were based on teacher predictions alone, there would have been a 9 per cent increase at GCSE and a 12 per cent increase at A level. Instead, Ofqual will standardise the grades to have a 1 per cent increase at GCSE and a 2 per cent increase at A level.

Until GCSE and A-level results are released to students, the centre assessment grade (CAG) and rank order placement cannot be revealed to students, owing to an exemption that has been made under Schedule 2, paragraph 25 of the Data Protection Act 2018.

However, now A-level results have been released they are allowed to ask for this information. Once GCSE results are released on Thursday 20 August.

What happens if you share CAG and/or rank order information before results day?

If a centre releases this data to a student before results day it is considered malpractice, and can result in a sanction for the school.

How can students submit their request?

Students may request this information in the usual manner your school has arranged. This might be by email, telephone, or a written request.

Some schools may choose to share this information with all students along with their results in order to preempt requests.

Can students ask for the CAG and/or rank order of their classmates?

Although students can request their own rank order and/or CAG, they cannot be given a classmate’s information.

Will students be able to ask to see emails and correspondence sent between teachers about how their CAG and rank order was decided?

According to the Information Commissioner’s Office, a student can request “correspondence from teachers”. This means emails and letters between teachers discussing student data may be requested.