News

Update for students and parents/guardians

UPDATE: Tuesday 23 March 2021, 09:45

Autumn GCSE and A Level exam series 2021

Ofqual has launched a new consultation (17 March 2021) on how an autumn exam series for GCSEs, AS and A levels should run this year (Autumn 2021)

More information can be found here.

The consultation will run until 9 April 2021.

We would encourage you to complete this consultation to share your views with the Regulator.

The impact of Covid-19 and the cancellation of exams in 2020-21 will have a huge bearing on what happens in the academic year 2021-22.

Wednesday 11 March 2021, 15:15

Dear Students and Parents/Carers

Update on GCSE Maths and English qualifications

We are writing to update you on the latest information about how GCSE Maths and English qualifications will be assessed this academic year 2020/21.

As you are probably aware, the Government has already announced that this summer’s GCSE examinations have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This means that the final results will be based on teacher-assessed grades. The Education Secretary announced on the 25 February that students will only be assessed against what they have been taught and teachers will be able to draw on a range of evidence when determining grades, including the optional use of questions provided by exam boards, as well as mock exams, coursework, or other work completed as part of a student's course, such as essays or in-class tests.

This means that it is vital all students continue to have full attendance at their Maths and English lessons with their tutor, both during remote learning weeks and when attending college. It is also important that every student fully engages and participates by completing all the tasks and submitting them as requested.

English and Maths tutors will be compiling a portfolio of each students work. This portfolio will comprise of:

• Work submitted via MS Teams or in any electronic format.
• Work completed on Century
• Practice papers completed in class
• Unit assessments completed in class

The Unit tests will run during students lessons once face to face lessons resume. They will not be conducted as formal exams. Students that require tutor guidance or support with a question will simply initial the question they would like guidance on, once that support has been provided the tutor will also place their initial beside the students. They will take place in the classroom and in calm, quiet conditions.

If a student has exam concessions we will be working with the ALS team to ensure they are taken into consideration and applied. All work submitted will receive a percentage mark, these will be totalled and a Maths/English average created. This final mark, based on the taught curriculum units, will be the basis for the Teacher Assessed Grade.

We are required to submit grades to the exam board on 18 June and all results will remain under an embargo until the 12 August and therefore tutors will not be permitted to share results or to disclose information relating to the grades for elements of submission.

We will keep you informed of further developments. In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact your English and Maths tutors.

Yours sincerely
Elaine Gates - Head of Maths & English

UPDATE: Monday 22 February 2021

The outcome of the recent Department of Education and Ofqual joint consultation on awarding grades in Summer 2021 for GCSE, AS and A levels, Vocational, technical and other general qualifications are due to be published this week (week commencing 22 February 2021)

More information will be published on this page and when it is received.