With schooling significantly disrupted this year due to COVID, it has been decided that it would not be fair to expect students to sit exams this year. The Government is now looking at alternative arrangements to award qualifications, working with Ofqual to deliver an alternative approach to ensure young people still receive a grade that supports them to progress to the next stage of their lives.
A range of contingency options have been drawn up and the Government has now issued a joint consultation to seek views on alternative assessment arrangements to ensure that students taking these qualifications are not disadvantaged in comparison to their peers.
The consultation will run for a fortnight, and the Government is keen to seek the views of teachers, school and college leaders, students, parents, and others involved in education, both through the written consultation and direct engagement with stakeholder groups.
Details on the proposals, and how to contribute to the consultation, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-how-gcse-as-and-a-level-grades-should-be-awarded-in-summer-2021 - it would be very helpful if Swindon’s voice was heard in this vital consultation.
