The Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual have confirmed the approach for issuing grades in summer 2021.
You can find more detailed information on this website, Consultation on how GCSE, AS and A level grades should be awarded in summer 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) but we’ve summarised the main points below:
- Exams will not go ahead as planned.
- A teacher-assessed grades approach will be used for all UK-regulated qualifications, including GCSE.
- Judgements will be quality-assured by awarding organisations (in the case of Fareham College, Pearsons for Maths and AQA for English).
- Teachers will collate a ‘basket of evidence’ for pupils expecting to receive a grade this summer.
- Students will be able to appeal their grades.
- Results day will be on 12 August for GCSE.
What evidence we are going to use
Primary evidence includes:
Termly in house assessments conducted under exam conditions at the end of each term. Â Each assessment incorporates any agreed exam concessions in line with EHCP and SEND assessment.
All termly assessments are fully moderated and marked by a range of subject specialists.
Secondary evidence could be used where the primary evidence does not provide a clear conclusion.
Secondary evidence includes:
- Marked homework.
- Book work completed in the classroom and online.
- Work completed on our online platforms.
- Completion of targets.
The final termly assessment will take place weeks commencing 17th and 24th May. Therefore, attendance to timetabled lessons is vital to ensure full access to the curriculum topics which will be covered in the final assessment.
Extra support is available as per a normal academic year and these include:
- Coaching.
- Extra revision sessions.
- Century learning.
- Access to study centre if applicable.
We are not able to divulge grade profiles until results day however, we will continue to provide students with detailed feedback on how to improve within specific subject areas.
Appeals
Students will be able to appeal their grade. A student who is unhappy with their grade will first ask their centre (Fareham College) to check whether an administrative or procedural error had been made.
Where a centre (Fareham College) does identify an error in the grade submitted to the exam board, it can submit a revised grade and a rationale for the board to consider. If the exam board is satisfied with the rationale, it will issue a revised grade.
Where a centre (Fareham College) does not believe an error had been made, a student can ask the centre to appeal to the exam board on their behalf. The centre will submit the student’s appeal to the exam board and provide the evidence on which its judgement had been made; the exam board will consider whether, in its view, the grade reflected an appropriate exercise of academic judgement. If the exam board judges that it did not, the exam board will determine the grade that the evidence would support. The exam board will also check that the centre had followed its own process.
Online forms will be made available on the Fareham College website nearer the time where a request to review a grade for administrative or procedural error can be instigated.
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