Recurring concern

Unreliable communication and support arrangements for educational assessment results

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First reported 25 Jul 2019•Latest report 10 Nov 2021

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in arrangements for releasing, explaining or communicating educational assessment results and for making timely support available to students or families, including inconsistent release timing or methods, delayed support after release, unclear advance information, and confusing or potentially misleading result or marking information.

Not included

Excludes general educational administration, teaching quality or student-support deficiencies that are not directly connected to communicating assessment results or providing support around results release.
Excludes substantive marking or examination decisions where the concern is only the academic correctness of the decision and not the clarity, reliability or communication of the result.
Excludes university admissions or UCAS processing failures after results have been clearly and reliably communicated, unless the assertion directly concerns the results-release communication process.
Excludes generic parental communication or mental-health support concerns without an educational assessment-results context.

Reports: 2
Individual concerns: 7
Date range: 2019–2021
Stated actions: 3

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Cardiff University1

Department for Education1

Sixth Form Colleges Association1

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

10 Nov2021
North West Wales
Concerns raised3
1. Failure to distinguish pending assessment marks from failed marks
2. Failure of examination results and marking processes to provide clear and non-misleading information
3. Lack of a system for personal tutors to contact vulnerable students before release of failed examination results
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
AI-generated summary

Mared Thomas Foulkes · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Mared Thomas Foulkes, aged 21, died beneath the Britannia Bridge on 8 July 2020; the inquest concluded that her death was suicide. Concerns included complex and potentially misleading examination-result communications, and the absence of a system for personal tutors to contact vulnerable students before failed results were released.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to distinguish pending assessment marks from failed marks
Wider context from the report
“(1) The sharing of examination results and how examinations are marked is complex, confusing and at times capable of appearing misleading. Mared had failed one Professional Skills Assessment during the second year of her degree (2019/2020) and had undertaken a resit during the first semester for which she had received a ‘provisional pass’. This was not ratified in the June exam board; instead it was to be ratified in the September exam board round in accordance with the University’s policy (though that was not obviously clear at the time). The indication therefore to Mared in July 2020 was that she had not successfully completed the year. The result was later ratified in September. Furthermore, marks of 39% and 1% (fails) for assessments are given in situations where marks could be ‘pending’. ”
Source location
Mared Thomas Foulkes · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 1 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure of examination results and marking processes to provide clear and non-misleading information
Wider context from the report
“(1) The sharing of examination results and how examinations are marked is complex, confusing and at times capable of appearing misleading. Mared had failed one Professional Skills Assessment during the second year of her degree (2019/2020) and had undertaken a resit during the first semester for which she had received a ‘provisional pass’. This was not ratified in the June exam board; instead it was to be ratified in the September exam board round in accordance with the University’s policy (though that was not obviously clear at the time). The indication therefore to Mared in July 2020 was that she had not successfully completed the year. The result was later ratified in September. Furthermore, marks of 39% and 1% (fails) for assessments are given in situations where marks could be ‘pending’. ”
Source location
Mared Thomas Foulkes · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 1 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of a system for personal tutors to contact vulnerable students before release of failed examination results
Wider context from the report
“(2) There is no system in place for personal tutors to contact students ahead of the release of failed examination results, especially in vulnerable students. Students are not contacted directly by telephone by their personal tutors ahead of the release of the results in the event of failed modules or in the event of being informed that they had not successfully completed the year despite the complex and confusing assessment and results process and potentially misleading process around the sharing of examination results. ”
Source location
Mared Thomas Foulkes · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 1 · concerns
Open source report
25 Jul2019
West Yorkshire (West)
Concerns raised4
1. Delays in staff support availability after unexpected A level results
2. Delayed UCAS availability after educational institutions release student results
3. Lack of national agreement on the timing and manner of A level results release
1. Lack of national requirement for advance direct parental communication about A level results release and potential unexpected results
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 3
1. Action
  Jointly host a roundtable with UCAS and education-sector organisations to consider the student journey and agree support for pupils encountering exam-result difficulties.
  Stated by Department for EducationStated planned
2. Action
  Provide telephone and social-media support through the Customer Experience Centre during the Confirmation and Clearing period.
  Stated by Universities and Colleges Admissions ServiceStated completed
3. Action
  Jointly host a roundtable with education-sector representatives to explore consistent school practice, embargo timing, student support and alternative higher-education choices.
  Stated by Universities and Colleges Admissions ServiceStated planned
Respondent positions 1
1. Position
  Exam-results release timing is determined by JCQ for GCSE, AS and A levels, and by individual awarding organisations for other qualifications.
  Stated by Department for EducationRedirects responsibility
AI-generated summary

Owen Arron Wynne Williams · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Owen Williams was found unresponsive, suspended by a rope tied to a tree in a secluded wooded area, after accessing A level results that did not meet the grades required for his intended university course; his death was confirmed later that day. The report identified concerns about the lack of national consistency in how and when A level results are released, delays before support is available, UCAS opening later, and the absence of a national requirement to inform parents in advance about the results-release system and potential impact of unexpected results.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Delays in staff support availability after unexpected A level results
Wider context from the report
“I heard evidence from the Principal of the college that Owen attended that there is wide variance both locally and nationally of the timing and way in which colleges release A level results, some release results electronically as early as 6.00 am and later the same morning provide a facility within the school and college to provide support to students, some colleges / schools require the students to physically attend to obtain their results, when at the same time support by staff members is immediately on hand. I understand UCAS is available from 8.00 am onwards, once again some hours after some students have obtained their results. In particular, from the evidence presented to me it appears:- 1. That there is no national agreement across all educational institutions to the timing and manner in which A level results are released. 2. That there can be a significant time lag between results being released by some schools and colleges and the timing of when there is the availability of staff to provide support to those students that may have received unexpected results. 3. That UCAS is presently available some hours after some educational institutions have released student results. 4. That there is no national requirement for educational establishments to communicate directly to parents in advance of results day and explain the system in place for the release of the A level results at the educational establishment that their child is attending and to alert them to the potential that unexpected results can occur and to be alert to the impact that this may have upon their child. ”
Source location
Owen Arron Wynne Williams · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Delayed UCAS availability after educational institutions release student results
Wider context from the report
“I heard evidence from the Principal of the college that Owen attended that there is wide variance both locally and nationally of the timing and way in which colleges release A level results, some release results electronically as early as 6.00 am and later the same morning provide a facility within the school and college to provide support to students, some colleges / schools require the students to physically attend to obtain their results, when at the same time support by staff members is immediately on hand. I understand UCAS is available from 8.00 am onwards, once again some hours after some students have obtained their results. In particular, from the evidence presented to me it appears:- 1. That there is no national agreement across all educational institutions to the timing and manner in which A level results are released. 2. That there can be a significant time lag between results being released by some schools and colleges and the timing of when there is the availability of staff to provide support to those students that may have received unexpected results. 3. That UCAS is presently available some hours after some educational institutions have released student results. 4. That there is no national requirement for educational establishments to communicate directly to parents in advance of results day and explain the system in place for the release of the A level results at the educational establishment that their child is attending and to alert them to the potential that unexpected results can occur and to be alert to the impact that this may have upon their child. ”
Source location
Owen Arron Wynne Williams · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of national agreement on the timing and manner of A level results release
Wider context from the report
“I heard evidence from the Principal of the college that Owen attended that there is wide variance both locally and nationally of the timing and way in which colleges release A level results, some release results electronically as early as 6.00 am and later the same morning provide a facility within the school and college to provide support to students, some colleges / schools require the students to physically attend to obtain their results, when at the same time support by staff members is immediately on hand. I understand UCAS is available from 8.00 am onwards, once again some hours after some students have obtained their results. In particular, from the evidence presented to me it appears:- 1. That there is no national agreement across all educational institutions to the timing and manner in which A level results are released. 2. That there can be a significant time lag between results being released by some schools and colleges and the timing of when there is the availability of staff to provide support to those students that may have received unexpected results. 3. That UCAS is presently available some hours after some educational institutions have released student results. 4. That there is no national requirement for educational establishments to communicate directly to parents in advance of results day and explain the system in place for the release of the A level results at the educational establishment that their child is attending and to alert them to the potential that unexpected results can occur and to be alert to the impact that this may have upon their child. ”
Source location
Owen Arron Wynne Williams · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of national requirement for advance direct parental communication about A level results release and potential unexpected results
Wider context from the report
“I heard evidence from the Principal of the college that Owen attended that there is wide variance both locally and nationally of the timing and way in which colleges release A level results, some release results electronically as early as 6.00 am and later the same morning provide a facility within the school and college to provide support to students, some colleges / schools require the students to physically attend to obtain their results, when at the same time support by staff members is immediately on hand. I understand UCAS is available from 8.00 am onwards, once again some hours after some students have obtained their results. In particular, from the evidence presented to me it appears:- 1. That there is no national agreement across all educational institutions to the timing and manner in which A level results are released. 2. That there can be a significant time lag between results being released by some schools and colleges and the timing of when there is the availability of staff to provide support to those students that may have received unexpected results. 3. That UCAS is presently available some hours after some educational institutions have released student results. 4. That there is no national requirement for educational establishments to communicate directly to parents in advance of results day and explain the system in place for the release of the A level results at the educational establishment that their child is attending and to alert them to the potential that unexpected results can occur and to be alert to the impact that this may have upon their child. ”
Source location
Owen Arron Wynne Williams · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Jointly host a roundtable with UCAS and education-sector organisations to consider the student journey and agree support for pupils encountering exam-result difficulties.

Verbatim wording from the response
“I am determined that we avoid any situations where students with unexpected results feel that they have nowhere to turn. In order to ensure that no pupil finds themselves in this situation, later this year, my department will be jointly hosting a roundtable with UCAS, who are responsible for the release of information about university places on the morning of A level results day. We will invite organisations from across the education sector to consider the student journey – from sitting exams to receiving results – to agree how, together, we can ensure that pupils are supported should they encounter difficulties. Attendees will include the JCQ (Joint Council of Qualifications) and the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA). I understand that UCAS and the SFCA will be responding to you separately.”

Source location
2019-0250-Response-by-Department-for-Education
Page 1 · response
Published 9 September 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Provide telephone and social-media support through the Customer Experience Centre during the Confirmation and Clearing period.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Most importantly, our Customer Experience Centre offers support via telephone and social media during the Confirmation and Clearing period, ensuring students have access to the right information and advice for their needs.”

Source location
2019-0250-Response-by-UCAS
Page 2 · response
Published 9 September 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Jointly host a roundtable with education-sector representatives to explore consistent school practice, embargo timing, student support and alternative higher-education choices.

Verbatim wording from the response
“On receipt of your letter, we contacted the Department for Education (DfE) and (JCQ) to discuss our own concerns about the time at which students can access their results without support from their school or college – and the inconsistency in approach. We believe improvements could be made to the process, and we are keen to work with DfE, JCQ, awarding organisations, schools, and colleges to improve the overall experience for students. In order to take this forward, we will jointly host a roundtable with DfE to explore how we can support students throughout the examination and results periods, particularly those who do not receive the grades they had hoped for.”

Source location
2019-0250-Response-by-UCAS
Page 2 · response
Published 9 September 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Exam-results release timing is determined by JCQ for GCSE, AS and A levels, and by individual awarding organisations for other qualifications.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The time at which GCSE, AS and A level results can be released by schools to pupils is a matter for the JCQ, a membership organisation representing independent awarding organisations including the four exam boards offering GCSE, AS and A level exams in England. The JCQ oversees exam processes”

Source location
2019-0250-Response-by-Department-for-Education
Page 1 · response
Published 9 September 2019
Open published response

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised3

Failure to distinguish pending assessment marks from failed marks

Failure of examination results and marking processes to provide clear and non-misleading information

Lack of a system for personal tutors to contact vulnerable students before release of failed examination results

Concerns raised4

Delays in staff support availability after unexpected A level results

Delayed UCAS availability after educational institutions release student results

Lack of national agreement on the timing and manner of A level results release

Lack of national requirement for advance direct parental communication about A level results release and potential unexpected results

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

Actions described in response 3

Respondent positions 1