{"id":14548,"date":"2021-04-14T11:10:14","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T10:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smk.org.uk\/?post_type=awards_nominations&p=14548"},"modified":"2022-12-01T15:19:14","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T15:19:14","slug":"stoppingtheunfaira-levelgradingalgorithm","status":"publish","type":"awards_nominations","link":"https:\/\/smk.org.uk\/awards_nominations\/stoppingtheunfaira-levelgradingalgorithm\/","title":{"rendered":"Stopping the Unfair A-Level Grading Algorithm"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.8″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”70px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”20px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ text_text_color=”#ad0400″ header_3_text_color=”#ad0400″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_module=”3593″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_module=”3595″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ad0400″ link_text_color=”#ad0400″ header_4_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” header_4_font_size_tablet=”” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_module=”3597″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n
@foxglovelegal<\/a><\/strong>\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”breadcrumbs” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”13px” link_font=”||||on|||#000000|” link_text_color=”#000000″ global_module=”3599″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\nHome<\/a><\/span>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.8″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”70px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/smk.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-Awards-image.png” alt=”2″ title_text=”2021 Awards image” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” filter_saturate=”0%” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.5.8″ custom_padding=”|||70px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”awards-right-menu” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_font=”|600|||on|||#ffffff|” link_text_color=”#ffffff” link_font_size=”13px” background_color=”#ec0500″ custom_padding=”20px|30px|20px|30px|false|false” global_module=”15090″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Long-term Achievement Award<\/a><\/p>\n Best Consumer Campaign<\/a><\/p>\n Best Coalition<\/a><\/p>\n Best Use of Law<\/a><\/p>\n Amplifying Unheard Voices <\/a><\/p>\n Best Community Campaign<\/a><\/p>\n David & Goliath<\/a><\/p>\n Young Campaigner Award<\/a><\/p>\n Campaigner of the Year<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”70px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”40px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=””][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”standfirst” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_module=”3845″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n Thousands of students nationwide risked losing university places because of algorithmic grades.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”24px” header_3_text_color=”#000000″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_module=”3727″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n In the summer of 2020<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0students across the country were\u00a0<\/span>prevented from sitting\u00a0<\/span>their exams\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0Covid-19. Ofqual, the UK\u2019s exam regulator<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0decided an algorithm should determine\u00a0<\/span>their<\/span>\u00a0grades<\/span>\u00a0instead<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>This\u00a0<\/span>resulted in 40% of students\u2019 results being downgraded\u00a0<\/span>and was\u00a0<\/span>particularly negative\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0pupils attending schools\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0less affluent areas. Thousands of students nationwide risked losing university places because of algorithmic grades.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Foxglove teamed up with an 18-year-old student<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>called Curtis Parfitt-Ford<\/span>, supporting him\u00a0<\/span>to bring a judicial review challenging the use of this algorithm. Curtis\u2019<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0case argued that Ofqual\u2019s algorithm was unlawful, that Ofqual had acted in contradiction of its statutory powers, it had violated data protection law, and was unfair.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Together<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0Foxglove and Curtis launched a\u202f<\/span>change.org<\/span><\/a>\u202fpetition signed by over 250,000 people and launched a\u202f<\/span>crowdfunder<\/span><\/a>\u202fto cover\u00a0<\/span>his<\/span>\u00a0legal costs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/span>case<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and national outcry<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0ultimately led to a\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>overnment\u202f<\/span>U<\/span>-turn. The algorithm was scrapped<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and students across the country were finally given their teacher<\/span>–<\/span>assessed grades.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.5.8″ custom_padding=”|||70px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|600|||on||||” link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||40px||false|false” global_module=”3770″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n @Foxglovelegal<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”40px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=””][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.5.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_module=”3729″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n The case made front page news and was featured on LBC, the Today Programme, the Guardian, BBC News, the Telegraph and more. But\u00a0<\/span>Curtis and Foxglove\u00a0<\/span>didn\u2019t do this alone, students protested in the streets and there was national outcry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Curtis\u2019 case and the A-Level grading fiasco sparked a much-needed national debate about the use of opaque algorithms in public life: not simply how they are used, but whether they should be used at all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the future,<\/span>\u00a0say Foxglove,<\/span>\u00a0consequential algorithmic systems must be designed and built in a way that is democratically\u00a0<\/span>acceptable<\/span>, and which does not cause chaos in thousands of lives.<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While this case is over and it looks like the\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>overnment won\u2019t be suggesting grades by algorithm\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>summer\u00a0<\/span>2021<\/span>, we are seeing algorithms used in the public sector more and more, often with harmful consequences. Foxglove continues to fight to\u202f<\/span>make UK public bodies use data in a way that is open, fair, and legal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Other successful cases challenging unfair algorithms include\u202f<\/span>the UK\u2019s first successful\u202fjudicial review\u202fof an algorithmic system<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0with\u202fpartners the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants<\/span>. It is also\u00a0<\/span>challeng<\/span>ing<\/span>\u202fa discriminatory Home Office \u2018<\/span>visa streaming algorithm’.<\/span><\/a>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Campaign<\/h2>\n
The Change<\/h2>\n
The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n