The Office for Statistics Regulation announced it will conduct a review into the statistical models used by exam regulators across the UK.
The review will focus on how the statistical model was developed and whether the organisations involved in its development complied with the principles set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
However, it will not review the implications of the model on individual results or suggest a way to award exam grades in the absence of exams.
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The announcement comes in response to a letter sent last Friday to the OSR by the Royal Statistical Society, calling for a review into the statistical models used to award grades in this year’s A-level and GCSE exams, which were cancelled following schools closures earlier this year.
In response, a letter sent by the OSR’s director-general for regulation, Ed Humpherson, to the Royal Statistical Society reads: “Despite the changes in approach to awarding exam grades announced since your letter, we consider there is still value in a review.
“OSR therefore plans to undertake a review focused on the process of developing the statistical models. Our review will consider the extent to which the organisations developing the models complied with the principles set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.”
The chief executive of the Royal Statistical Society, Stian Westlake, welcomed the announcement on Twitter.
He said: “Good news…A review will now take place. This will help cast light on what went wrong, and, we hope, prevent it happening again.”
