The main points are:
GCSEs, A levels and AS levels
• If a student was due to complete a qualification this summer and they are unable to formally complete the course due to Covid-19, they will be issued a calculated grade this year.
• The process involves the student’s school, college or sixth form sharing a centre assessed grade to the examining board and a ranking within the cohort.
• The exam board will then take this information from the school, college or sixth form and use this information to issue the calculated grade. The exam board will moderate nationally so that the same proportions of students achieve similar grades to previous years.
• The grades will be issued to students in August on A level results day or GCSE results day.
• If a student is unhappy with the grade they can appeal on procedural grounds (i.e. incorrect information was used) or they can sit an exam in autumn. Details around the exams in autumn are still emerging.
BTECs and other vocational courses
• There are a number of technical qualifications with different ways of assessing students. Given this, Ofqual has given guidance to the awarding bodies to ensure that students can receive a calculated result. Results will be issued in August on A level results day or GCSE results day.
• Many students will have completed assessed units and this will be looked at alongside any 'banked' grades. In general, schools, colleges and sixth forms will give a centre assessed grade to the examining body who will then use this information to issue a final calculated result.
• As with A levels and GCSEs, students who are unhappy with the result will have the opportunity to appeal but the process will vary depending on the awarding body.
It is also important to note that Ofqual have informed schools, colleges and sixth forms that they must not speak to students or parents about their centre issued grades. It is likely that your child's school will be in touch about the overall process but please do not contact the school to discuss your child's grades with them.
Links to all of the updates from Ofqual can be found here.
This is may be a very challenging and anxious time for students and parents and the recent return to school after Easter may have been an adjustment for families. AKEB recently delivered webinars on understanding the impact of stress on learning and how to manage it, which are available here.
.
If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to contact the AKEB team on [email protected].
