A levels - Loreto staff write open letter to students

The exam grades controversy prompted staff at the Coleraine school to write an open letter to and about their students.

The letter reads: “Back in May, teachers, Departments and members of the Senior Leadership Team had deliberated for days about the predicted grades requested by the examination boards, following the announcement that this summer’s public examinations had been cancelled due to the Covid 19 lockdown. No decision was taken lightly; every decision was made with the best efforts of every student in mind.

“This week, we have found out what those predicted grades became when examination boards applied their data to them – national trends and our own school’s performance over recent years. Results days are about young people, not data, though, and that has never seemed clearer than today.

“Many of our students are delighted; many are celebrating having places on their dream courses at their chosen universities. There are students celebrating wonderful sets of grades: three A grades, four A grades, even three A* grades. We are so proud of those students, and we celebrate on your behalf this year as we would do every year.

“But this year is different.

“Lockdown has taught us lessons. We’ve learned things about life and the frailty of everyone’s health this year, just as much as lessons about Maths or English, Geography or Science. We’ve learned lessons about community: how we can stay together, while apart; how school can go almost completely online; how much we can miss the routines we always thought were rather tiresome. New phrases have entered our vocabulary, like ‘social distancing’ or ‘R rate’. New items have entered our wardrobes, such as face coverings, and we all have a much stronger notion of what two metres looks like when measured between two people.

“And that’s not all we’ve learned. We’ve learned, more than ever before, that no student can ever be defined by a set of grades. So many teachers, when submitting their predicted grades last term, wanted to send in much more as well: comments about amazing coursework, or determined efforts, or tremendous progress. There were so many other things we thought about too: the friendships, the care for others, the sense of justice and the sparkling sense of fun that so many of our sixth form brought to our classrooms, study and corridors last year. These things can never be summed up in a predicted grade.

“There may be some of our students with a sense of injustice today, feeling that the results they received didn’t do them justice. Your teachers will always support you, and we will help you try to put things right. For all our Year 14 students, the class of 2020: we could never have predicted that your Leavers’ Mass would be celebrated online, and that our farewells would be virtual: this will only increase our pride in you and how much we will miss you. For our Year 13 students, we look forward to welcoming you back very soon to begin your final year of study, where you’ll take your place as the leaders of our student family. We will make your final year as special and successful as we can.

“To all of you: we are proud of you. Whether you’re beginning a new adventure or returning to school albeit in a slightly different world, may your next steps be positive ones.

“Year 13 and Year 14: the world is opening up before you. It may not be happening in a way that any of us expected, but it is, in the words of our school prayer, ‘full of promise and opportunity’.

“May you use the days ahead of you well.

“From all the Staff of Loreto College.”