Imagine. Imagine how it feels to have been predicted a good pass mark and then have that downgraded to a mark that suggests you didn't even turn up for the exam? Your years of study reduced to naught, your choice of career lost to you, the doors of your dream university now closed, having to face employers in the worst jobs market for generations with a U grade. And not because of any failing of yours. But because of a thoughtlessly designed process and an inexplicable lack of care for its impacts on students like you. 

And with no adequate appeal mechanism - so there is nothing you can do. You cannot appeal an awarded grade on the merits. This is the case however much you were downgraded by.

And of course this disaster has not been visited on rich and poor alike. The data shows - and clearly - that it is hitting poorer kids above richer and state school kids more than private. But then, somehow, it always does seems to be like that, doesn't it?

Section 22 of the Education Act 2011 says Ofqual’s objective is to regulate qualifications to “give a reliable indication of knowledge, skills and understanding”. That has not happened here. Moreover, the system is conspicuously unfair.

Ofqual have promised an autumn series of exams. However this is no solution. They will not help students who have onward plans based on their grades, and has led to difficulties for universities who have to hold places for 2021. It will only increase the difficulties for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who will have faced months not having attended school.

We have spoken to vast numbers of young people who have been profoundly affected by this fiasco. C has lost out on a place at a leading medical school because Ofqual have downgraded her from A*AA to ABC. And L, whose school thought she would earn A* A*A but was downgraded to BBC, losing her place at a top 10 university. And M from London, whose school assessed him with BBB, but who was instead awarded EEE and now fears for his job prospects.

Our lawyers will write to Gavin Williamson and Ofqual on behalf of the young people we have heard from, demanding justice. The letter - in its current version, fifteen pages long - sets out the failings in detail and advances three arguments:

• that Ofqual and Gavin Williamson had an obligation to create a scheme that was procedurally fair to the Claimants and they breached that obligation
• that there is a systemic problem with the scheme that gives rise to an unacceptable risk of procedural unfairness
• that Ofqual breached its obligation in section 129 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 to meet the qualifications standards objective (to secure that "regulated qualifications give a reliable indication of knowledge, skills and understanding") and the public confidence objective (to "promote public confidence in regulated qualifications".

It asks Ofqual and Gavin Williamson to acknowledge that the system at present is unfair and unlawful for those students whose Centre Assessment Grade has been downgraded and to create an appeal right on the merits or to reset the system so that students' grades can be downgraded by one grade at most.

We will publish the letter on this page as soon as possible, That may be this morning (15 August) - or it may be on Monday (17 August).

This litigation will be taken forward urgently and we will seek an expedited hearing.

Good Law Project has instructed Fiona Scolding QC, Yaaser Vanderman and Leon Glenister of Landmark Chambers, and Dan Rosenberg of Simpson Millar, all of whom will work at considerably below market rates.

What are we crowdfunding for?

We need your help to cover the costs of running the litigation.

10% of the funds raised will be a contribution to the general running costs of Good Law Project. We will use any surplus to develop other litigation to protect the most disadvantaged.

Good Law Project’s founder, Jo Maugham QC, continues to work unpaid.