[sims] Exam results import problem

[Stuart_C]

Just had a problem arrise importing the OCR GCSE results for English and RS. For some reason when we imported these results we got an "aspect type equivilent for element not found" error however the results seemed to import.

 

When we looked at the results there were there but it wasn't until we analysed the results that we realised there was a problem. All the students who should have got an A* were listed in SIMS as having and A. However it was only this subset of results that were wrong. Those students who had A's had A's, the B's were B's and so on. Whislt we didn't check eveyone we did two random sample checks and it all looked OK. We varified the results we had against an export direct from the exam board.

 

I have not yet started looking into it as people are frantically trying to get some print outs done to give out but before I start playing Capita/Examboard tennis I was wondering if anyoine had had similar problems? and what did you do to fix it?

 

Capita have given us a patch and a generic "it's all OK" KB article, well the patch did nothing and it's clearly not OK

[PhilNeal]

Please see my posting from yesterday re OCR. We are working with OCR to ensure their files conform to the standards. SupportNet is being actively used to provide answers.

[6Foot2]

We had an E-Mail from Serco saying that something similar might happen to our results.

 

I notified our Database Manager. From there I don't know any more but I think she has dealt with it because I haven't heard any more about it.

[tech_guy]

We've got students who got two A* in both parts of their exams but ended up with an A .....

 

Some very upset students this morning. What a cock up...

[Sivadam]

..... What a cock up...

Agreed!

 

What a bonus that Capita got Charles Bailey back in so that these issues could be identified early yesterday and measures could be put in place to try sort them before today!

Thanks Charles, on behalf of all SIMS Schools!

 

We all miss him and his ability to sort the Exam Boards out!

 

One wonders why exam boards still manage to create files that do not meet the standard criteria! Mind you, one other exam board that often causes issues seems to have been quite good this year!

Edited August 24, 2010 by Sivadam

[Banjo]

Re -download and import the latest basedata from the OCR website, then re import the latest results files (re released today)

 

This should solve all the issues with A* and double awards for OCR

 

Why the exam boards and MIS suppliers can't get together and move to XML files rather than the antiquated file system they use now, baffles me.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Banjo

[PhilNeal]

We're up for it!

[Sivadam]

Ha Ha!

 

I bet you did not expect that response, Banjo.

All you have to do now is go and pursuade all the Exam Boards to agree as well!

(and all the other MIS suppliers too!)

[tech_guy]

The August basedata file on the OCR site is borked?! Our Sims.Net Exam module still can't find what it's looking for?!

[matt40k]

Ha Ha!

 

I bet you did not expect that response, Banjo.

All you have to do now is go and pursuade all the Exam Boards to agree as well!

(and all the other MIS suppliers too!)

 

You know what will happen. They'll all have different standards!!

[Banjo]

You know what will happen. They'll all have different standards!!

 

That's ok, there's more than one standard of CTF (address format) but generally it works. A 21st century solution to exam entries/basedata/results would be most welcome.

 

With 80%+ of the UK market maybe Capita (Phil) should take the lead on this, bring a new format to market and slowly phase the old style out of the next few years.

 

I have the feeling it's not the MIS suppliers that would drag their feet on this though

[PhilNeal]

I've checked up on this and there is a project to move to a web service for all boards by 2011.

[teejay]

Must say well done to the Capita Helpdesk on this one today, they were pretty well on the ball with it straight away. Really don't envy their job on results days ;-)

[Stuart_C]

Our exam officer's got all the details from capita how to sort it so I've got a bit of fixing to do in a couple of days. (as all the head want's is spreadsheet analysis we can change the results to keep him happy and the me and the exam's officer can fix sims when it's quieter).

 

Thanks OCR - NOT!

[john]

I've checked up on this and there is a project to move to a web service for all boards by 2011.

 

The days of kids coming to school for A Level and GCSE results are numbered, Edexcel have online results for GCSE and A Levels for students now, we were asked about if we wanted to use it this year to save the need for it as the boards are no longer from this year producing the paper statements that candidates were issued in the past (well all the main boards are giving up over this year, some have stopped for GCSEs now but the rest I believe are following over the next 12 months) so its the way forward Means we don't have to be in at the crack of dawn to start work on printing and stuffing envelopes!

[PhilNeal]

.. but I don't think the days of schools not requiring their own copy of exam results are numbered!

[elsiegee40]

.. but I don't think the days of schools not requiring their own copy of exam results are numbered!

 

Double-negative alert! (Though I get the idea! )

 

[john]

.. but I don't think the days of schools not requiring their own copy of exam results are numbered!

 

True, but as this year has shown to us staff don't really bother coming in now as again they have it all online, all 3 boards gave the staff logons for the online systems so the HoDs just logged online and saw them, I can count on one hand the number of staff, other than those full time / those due in for meetings etc that were in. Obviously SLT were in to crunch numbers etc, but the general teaching population was minimal this year with most reporting they had looked online on the Wednesday or Thursday.