Beth oedd y diwrnod gorau iti

ARCHWILIO 7

Gair Rhydd Interviews Cardiff Clearing Office

Gair Rhydd spoke to a clearing call agent, who has been working in the clearing office for Cardiff University for the past four years, and describes feeling “utterly helpless” for the students.

Esen Kupeli found that this year, days. When the algorithm was the number of calls the clearing retracted and students were authorities office received was awarded their centre assessed much greater in comparison to the grades, the phone lines went mad previous years since students have “We were somewhat unprepared - “failed to achieve their grades”. but all the callers worked extremely

“I remember in the morning hard and got through all the calls. thinking, this isn’t a usual clearing When I came in the next morning, shift.... I hadn’t heard about this the atmosphere had shifted to a algorithm yet. I researched it, along lot more bright and hopeful - we with my colleagues, and found were eager to hand out offers. The out more about it. We were all only problem was that most spaces fuming. The whole experience was on courses had been filled up, so frustrating because we genuinely felt we didn’t even have a lot of offers so bad for all the students, we were to give out. Whenever we did, infuriated at the government and the we’d celebrate, it’d make our day whole situation, but we couldn’t do almost as much as the students’. anything about it, and felt helpless. “I had students on the phone who couldn’t afford to appeal. Who “The students were were predicted As, who were from families with no history of higher stuck with grades that education. These students were to be the first generation to get had been nonchalantly that higher education which is so readily welcome and available to handed to them without those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. This classist, elitist a second thought as algorithm messed these kids up. “These students were stuck with to the impact this will grades that had been nonchalantly handed to them without a second have... my heart would thought as to the impact this will have on their future. My heart genuinely break every would genuinely break every time I had to reject such students. time I had to reject Honestly, the tone and mood in the clearing room was such students.” solemn over the first two/three Gair Rhydd asked students to summarize their results experience and the

Impact on students coming to Cardiff University

Gair Rhydd spoke to Jemima emotions quickly turned to anger. teachers submitted a grade for a “I wasn’t going to give up here. I repeat Year 13.” Coleman, looking forward I submitted an appeal based on my student and it was submitted by the wanted the grades that the school Feeling that a great injustice had to joining Cardiff University higher mock grades. However, then college to the exam board, unalhad taken from me, and I wanted - been done, I also wrote a letter to this September. Coleman describes came the centre assessed grades tered. However, my college interneeded - the scholarship. I phoned my local MP, Andrew Griffith, and the situation as feeling quite con(CAG) announcement which were fered with these grades before they OFQUAL, and I phoned Pearson, I have not heard anything back fident, due to her close friend’s resadly too late for many. After were even sent to the exam board. and I still have not heard back from from him or his office either. I feel sults which came before hers, and such a long wait, people who had My maths teachers actually asthe exam board. The deadline for that due to coming from an undershe had achieved straight A*’s in otherwise got their University place signed me a grade A, but leadership my grade to be amended so I can privileged background, I already the similar subjects they both have with their CAGs had by now found at the school - staff that had never be considered for the bursary is the have to work harder to reach the worked on together for the past places through clearing. taught me nor interacted with me 31st October. Time is running out.” level of my more privileged peers, years. “We came out with nearly “For a lot of colleges, the TAGs on an academic level - decided to “One of my friends lost her and now I feel like I have been setidentical GCSE results and were were the same as the CAGs; the take my grade and move it down.” university place, and is forced to back even further, and it’s not fair.” on track to be getting very similar grades at A-Level, with As and A*s being predicted for us. But when it came to college, I went to Steyning Sixth Form College, and she went to St Philip Howard Catholic High School. Whilst this isn’t a private college, it is held in high esteem by the surrounding areas and is a much more upper class institution.” “When I received my results later in the afternoon, nothing went according to my expectations and was downgraded to ABBC from expecting straight A’s. I swore. I cried. I panicked. Not only had I lost my entry requirements, I had also missed my Academic Scholarship. Nonetheless, I was shaking and couldn’t see, but I managed to log onto UCAS Track and see that my place had still been confirmed at the University. ‘Overwhelmed’ is an understatement. I was so algorithm in three words. Credit: Tehreem Sultan incredibly relieved.” “When the relief subsided, my Freshers: Despite the downgraded grades and the algorithm, students will be joining Cardiff University in September. Credit: Tehreem Sultan