Sending exam results by email

[jon_d]

We are looking at different solutions to send out exam results to pupils.

 

Just curious as to how many edgeekers are doing this and how?

Also are they are going to home or school email addresses, or even parents?

 

Is anybody aware of any legal restrictions or data protection issues with doing this?

 

Thanks

[bobsmith]

I thought the results went straight to the student, unless the student has explicitly given their permission to give them to a third party (even parents)

[jtoland]

If i had to send rezults home to students i would build or get someone to make a web system as more secure and the students have to login

[FN-GM]

If i had to send rezults home to students i would build or get someone to make a web system as more secure and the students have to login

 

Why bother when they just put them in the newspaper anyway?

 

You could alway use encrypted email?

Edited February 24, 2016 by FN-GM

[Ketlane]

The results belong to the candidates not the parents. They need to be sent to candidates unless you have the candidates' consent to send to someone else. Yes, it's a hassle! Will your MIS do this for you?

[jon_d]

Thanks all

 

Where we have some concerns at the moment is that the email address we have on file for the pupil is often in reality the email address for the parent.

The safest option seems to be to release results to their school email address - however, we are worried this isn't the most convenient approach for the pupil.

 

SLT favour the email approach over a portal for exam results as it means we are actively delivering them rather than just making them available.

Potentially we can email them out using the MIS system, so this could be a quick win - but it generated a somewhat heated discussion on where we send them to.

[SovietRussia]

Why bother when they just put them in the newspaper anyway?

 

You could alway use encrypted email?

 

There are special considerations for printing results in the local press.

[3s-gtech]

An advantage to sending them to a school email address (if it's on site) is that the email will not leave your system at all, so encryption shouldn't be an issue. If you use GAFE or O365 it would still need to be done I think. Edited February 25, 2016 by 3s-gtech

[CAM]

You must not issue them before the embargo lifts. You must also ensure the student receives it and that whomever you send them to is verified as being the student. For this reason, it's often easier to stick them in an envelope and make them come in and pick the results up.

 

Those who don't often get their results mailed home later in the day. Quite frankly, you want to encourage them to come in for results as if something goes wrong, the teacher is there to drag them into their office to console and support them. They won't get that at home (they may not even think of coming in for support). In fact, people are so stupid online these days some might not even open the E-Mail...

 

Also beware of internal mail addresses. Some local authority issued ones will expire over summer for leavers and you will be chucking the results into a black hole.

Edited February 25, 2016 by CAM

[GREED]

As far as I was aware, Students HAVE to be the person to open the results (what they do with it after that is up to them). So emails you'd have to be careful about. You'd best look closer at solutions that the student has a log in to, as a first port of call (either app or online for example).

[RLR]

We've emailed results the last 2 years and it hasn't been an issue. We use their school email address.

[minimoo]

"Quite frankly, you want to encourage them to come in for results as if something goes wrong, the teacher is there to drag them into their office to console and support them. They won't get that at home (they may not even think of coming in for support)."

 

^ that's the approach we've always used, and don't send out emails. As it's the sensible approach - however, i'm also pretty sure now that as UCAS make some information available on their websites, and so do some of the boards - we are at the point where the students kinda know how well/badly they've done, before the arrive to collect the envelope.

 

In terms of sims, we would be set up to do it - as we set all students email address in sims to their school email address - have parents email address under each individual parents record.

Edited February 25, 2016 by minimoo

[FN-GM]

Emailing would be great for those who cannot make it due to being on holiday etc.

[PhilNeal]

Quite a lot of our schools email results directly to pupils. Views are mixed but those that chose to email do so for a number of reasons.

1. Results can be issued at midnight
   
2. Results may not be good and its better for the pupil to receive these away from public glare
   
3. Families are freer to take a holiday
   
4. 
   

[jon_d]

Quite a lot of our schools email results directly to pupils. Views are mixed but those that chose to email do so for a number of reasons.

1. Results can be issued at midnight
   
2. Results may not be good and its better for the pupil to receive these away from public glare
   
3. Families are freer to take a holiday
   
4. 
   

 

Do you mean 6am? Midnight is the release time to exam offices, not pupils - at least with our exam boards.

[PhilNeal]

I had heard an exams officer say midnight but you may well be right!