GCSE, BTEC, A levels
Dear Parents/Carers
Now that we have managed the school closure and done all we can to ensure a continuation of education via remote means, our attention turns to exams and qualifications for students in years 11 to 14. Over the last 24 hours, we have received a barrage of Government and exam board communication and instead of posting links we wanted to distil this information and break it down. We know that everyone is concerned but students across the United Kingdom are in the same position and we are committed to making sure that students aren’t disadvantaged in any way.
The Government has provided clarification on how qualifications and grades for students who are due to complete courses this year will be awarded. We have provided an official link to the statement below. It is self-explanatory but we felt that it might be useful to summarise the key points:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-details-on-exams-and-grades-announced
- Teachers will be asked to make a judgement on the grade they feel students would have achieved if they’d sat all exams and completed courses as normal. This judgement will inform the grade they are awarded for their subjects. Importantly, teachers will be able to base their judgement on a wide range of evidence and not just on most recent mock exam results. This means that tests, essays, classwork and homework etc completed during studies can be taken into consideration by teachers. This also means that the predicted grade that teachers recorded on reports may potentially differ from the final grade they suggest should be awarded. Teachers will do everything they can to ensure students achieve the grades they were on track to achieve.
- For sixth form students, the prior attainment (ie the grades achieved in GCSEs) will also be taken into consideration by exam boards alongside the grades suggested by teachers. This is nothing to worry about- the exam boards will be looking at what students with similar GCSE grades typically achieve in the subjects undertaken in the sixth form.
- The plan is for the exam boards to inform students of the grades they’ve been awarded at the end of July, this is earlier than normal.
- An appeal process will be put in place if students feel the grades they are awarded don’t sufficiently reflect what they feel they would have achieved had they sat all exams as normal. At the moment we don’t have any information about how this process will work.
- Students will be awarded full A level, BTEC and GCSE qualifications and will eventually receive certificates as normal. The value of these A levels, BTECs and GCSE will be no different from those awarded to students in previous years.
- Although full qualifications will be awarded, there will be the opportunity to sit exams in subjects early next academic year (ie at some point from September 2020 onwards) if students wish to do this. This may be something students will want to consider and we will speak to everybody a little later in the year when more detail is available.
There are a few more points I’d like to raise now that we have more clarification on how qualifications will be awarded:
- Firstly, the completion of any coursework that teachers require students to complete at home is vital now that we know their judgement will be used to inform final grades. This is particularly important for subjects like art (May 20th deadline) and technology.
- Secondly, for sixth form students, the advice from universities is don’t rush decisions. If students have heard back from all universities they’ve applied to before March 31st (which will apply to most students), they have until May 5th to make firm and insurance choices. Universities will be contacting applicants direct with regards to how they will be moving forward with applications and offers.
- If students have applied to go to university, make sure student finance applications are completed. This is something done at home with parents or carers.
- Finally, please refrain from contacting teachers about suggested awarded grades. Teachers are working with students and not against them. We always have the best interests of students at heart and teachers need time to reflect back on the wealth of assessment done with students over the period of study before making their final judgment.
It is vital that ‘careers and employment ’ advice/support is given to all Year 11 and Year 13 students likely to leave education this summer 2020. To this end, young people and their parents/carers can still contact Connexions Sandwell online, and staff are available by phone or email. They can be called on 0121 569 2955 or Freephone: 0800 358 4800. Alternatively, the email is [email protected]. Students can also contact our careers advisor at Forge by emailing Bev Evans on [email protected].
Finally, the Government has put together a document of frequently asked questions about exams and you can find that at this shortened link https://bit.ly/2xT80xj. There is very little we can add at this point but will do all our best to reassure students at this difficult time and ensure that we communicate information as and when we receive it.
The most important thing I can say now, given all this information, is to ask students NOT to give up on your studies. Complete coursework, study and continue to work hard. In turn, my priority is to ensure that none of our students face a barrier when it comes to moving onto the next stage of their lives – whether that’s further or higher education, an apprenticeship or a job. Staff are on hand to answer any subject-specific questions from parents, carers and students and the head of each year will continue support students with any concerns they might have or any emotional troubles or anxiety brought on by these events.
We will be in touch with further updates. In the meantime, stay safe and continue to follow guidance from Government departments and the NHS.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Lisa Mason
Principal
Ormiston Forge Academy