We, the undersigned students and parents of St. Robert Catholic High School, respectfully request that Anne Ashworth be removed from teaching in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. We believe her grading practices, teaching style, and overall approach to instruction have significantly and negatively impacted students' academic success and university prospects. Our concerns are as follows:

1. Unreasonably Low Grading Standards
Anne Ashworth consistently assigns marks that are significantly lower than those given in other IB English classes. In her class(Take one as an example):

• The highest recorded mark was an 88, while the course median including other classes is 89. which means No matter how much blood, sweat, and tears you poured in English, more than half students in other classes can have higher marks than you.
• If her class's marks were excluded, the overall course median would be 92-93, aligning with a high IB 5 or low IB 6. 
• Her grading distribution does not follow any reasonable curve or IB standard, making it virtually impossible for students to achieve a 6 or 7.

While challenging courses like IB Biology and IB Chemistry also have strict grading, students in those subjects have historically been able to achieve high marks (6s and 7s). This proves that a difficult course does not inherently prevent high achievement. The fact that no student in her class is capable of obtaining a 6 or 7 is unacceptable and unfairly damages students’ academic records.

2. Negative Impact on Predicted Grades for University Applications
If we have Anne Ashworth in Grade 12, she will be responsible for assigning our predicted grades, which are sent to IB and universities. Historically, she has given extremely low predicted grades, justifying them by claiming that students would not "survive" in university otherwise. However:

• With her grading system, many students will struggle to gain acceptance into top universities, even if they are high achievers in other subjects.
• Her approach disproportionately affects students who have worked hard throughout high school, maintained strong extracurricular involvement, and are otherwise competitive applicants for university programs.
• Her philosophy disregards the reality that university admissions are highly competitive, and grades play a crucial role in securing offers.

It is unfair that students in an IB English class down the hall receive significantly higher marks, highlighting an inconsistency that must be addressed to ensure fairness.

3. Mental Health impact

The pressure of consistently low marks has caused many students to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and discouraged about their academic performance. A positive and supportive learning environment is essential for student well-being. 

4. An Urgent Warning for Future Students
We urge the administration to take immediate action, as Ashworth now teaches both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) IB English. This means that students who may think they have avoided her for now could very well end up in her class next year, jeopardizing their final grades and university aspirations. Imagine working tirelessly for years, only to have one teacher stand in the way of your dreams simply because she refuses to grade fairly. This is a reality we refuse to accept.

Conclusion and Request
We understand that IB courses are designed to be rigorous and demanding. However, the academic rigor should not be an excuse for consistently unfair grading, inadequate instruction, and policies that hinder student success. We request that:

1. Anne Ashworth be removed from teaching IB English.
2. A fairer and more standardized grading system be implemented across IB English classes.
3. A teacher who provides clearer instruction and constructive feedback be assigned to replace her.

We are counting on the administration to uphold its duty to ensure students receive a fair and high-quality education. Please do not allow another cohort of students to suffer the same fate. Act now before it is too late.

Please sign this petition if you believe we should do something to save and protect students, to save and protect St. Robert Catholic High School.