Hampstead School Predicted Grades Policy 2025-26

What are Predicted Grades?

When a student applies to university through UCAS, the school is asked to give predicted grades in order that universities are able to establish the suitability of the student to their chosen courses.

1. When do students get their predicted grades?

Predicted grades will be released to students at the end of September 2025. This ensures that all students, including early-entry applicants (those applying to Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary) have sufficient time to choose their courses appropriately. Students and families will have an indication of a student’s progress through the assessment reports shared throughout year 12 and through discussions at the Year 12 progression meetings in June.

2. How are predicted grades decided?

It is essential that we predict grades that we feel are a true reflection of each student’s ability and potential. We adopt an honest and evidence-based approach, whereby attainment and progress in Year 12 is the main indicator of future performance. The teacher or teachers of each subject decide the predicted grades for their students, as they know their own students best. They may consider some or all of the following factors when making their decision:

• Results of Year 12 assessments or mock examinations
• Grades awarded in progress reports
• General attitude to learning and commitment (as evidenced by contributions made in class, meeting deadlines, attendance and punctuality)
• Performance in homework assignments
• GCSE results
• The student’s drive and passion for the subject (as evidenced by wider reading, involvement in extra-curricular activities around the subject etc.)
• Professional judgement and experience of making UCAS predictions

For example, a student who consistently achieves C grades throughout Year 12 in assessments and homework assignments in a particular subject may be awarded a predicted grade of a C, or a B if they have an excellent work ethic and attitude to learning and have shown evidence of consistent progress. It is less likely, however, that such a student would be predicted an A grade, as the evidence would not necessarily support such a prediction. Teachers will not base their predictions on a student’s wishes, what the student needs to get into a particular course, or on students’ promises that they will ‘work harder this

year’. While this affirmation is admirable, it is the case that Year 13 students must work much harder than they did in Year 12 simply to maintain their grades due to the increased difficulty of final year content.

3. Over-inflated predictions:

It is understandable that students and parents may want teachers to over-predict A Level grades, in order that the student may access a particular University course.

However, we have a professional and moral responsibility to ensure that the student has realistic expectations with regard to their likely grades, whilst still remaining motivated and aspirational. The potential consequences of over-predicting A-Level grades can be outlined as follows:

• Students find themselves without a University place when they receive their results, as they achieved what teachers originally predicted, but not the higher grades that were requested. The student must go through the Clearing process, which can often result in a student choosing a course that has lower entry requirements than what they actually achieved.
• Future Hampstead School students are affected, as the school’s reputation for accurate predictions is diminished. University admission tutors build a knowledge of the accuracy of a particular school’s predictions. Therefore, if the school becomes known for over-predicting, future applications may be put at a disadvantage, as the schools predicted grades will be brought into question.
• Teachers are asked to go against their professional judgement and honest opinion, which is not moral, nor is it fair to other students who are given an accurate prediction which may be lower than they would like.

4. Appeals

It may be the case that some students feel that a predicted grade they have been given is not a true reflection of their ability or what they are likely to achieve at the end of Year 13. If a student is in this position, then they may ask for the grade to be increased by providing a letter of appeal to the Head of Year 13. This should outline the reasons why they think the predicted grade is not a fair assessment of what they might achieve, as well as a summary of the evidence that supports their view that a higher prediction is warranted.

Appropriate evidence may include:

• Grades from assessments that they have completed in class and for homework
• Grades from mock examinations
• Evidence of their drive and passion for the subject shown through wider reading, commitment to extra-curricular activities, attendance at lectures and subject-related events
• Excellent attendance and punctuality records

The Head of Year 13 will then consult the subject lead or teachers, following which a final decision will be made as to whether or not the grade should be increased. Please note that the final decision will rest with the Head of Year 13.

Please note: All teachers will be asked to review the predicted grades after the Year 13 PPEs at the beginning of November 2025. They will then make necessary adjustments, where appropriate.

Any student who would like to appeal their predicted grade should speak to their teacher ahead of the appeal deadlines (listed below) to ask what they need to evidence and what opportunities they need to take part in.

Appeal Deadlines: There will be two cycles of appeal deadlines. One is before the early entry deadline (15^th October) and the second is before the school deadline (1^st  December).

Appeal Deadline 1: Friday 3^rd October 2025

Appeal Deadline 2:  Friday 21^st November 2025

Appeals entered after these dates will not be considered. Students must ensure that they submit their appeal letters to the Head of Year 13 in good time.

5. What happens next?

Teachers will write subject references for student’s UCAS applications in June of Year 12, the tutor will then put this together for a full reference that will be uploaded to a student’s UCAS application.

Teachers will then enter predicted grades in September of Year 13, which will form the final part of a student’s reference. This information is passed along to the student’s tutor, who will then put the grades onto the student’s UCAS application, along with their completed reference.

The application is then checked by the Head of Year 13 or the Director of Sixth Form. If there are any issues with the applications this will be sent back to the student to amend. Once it is amended and fully approved, the Head of Year 13 or Director of Sixth Form will send the application to UCAS.

Once an application has been sent to UCAS no changes can be made.

Key Dates:

Please be aware of the following key dates:

• Wednesday 15^th October 2025– early entry deadline. All students who are applying to Oxford and Cambridge or to medicine, dentistry or veterinary courses need to submit their applications by 6pm on this date.

• Monday 1^st December 2025 – school deadline for submitting UCAS applications. All students who want to apply to university must have submitted their application by this time.