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Exam regulator unveils GCSE and A-level plans for coronavirus crisis Exam regulator unveils GCSE and A-level plans for coronavirus crisis
(about 3 hours later)
Teacher assessment, class rank and school performance will determine grades, Ofqual saysTeacher assessment, class rank and school performance will determine grades, Ofqual says
Pupils taking GCSEs and A-levels this summer will have their grades awarded by a combination of teacher assessment, class rank and the past performance of their schools, the exam regulator for England has announced. Pupils taking GCSEs and A-levels this summer will have their grades awarded by a combination of teacher assessment, their class rank and the past performance of their schools, the exam regulator for England has announced.
Ofqual, which oversees schools’ public examinations, laid out the new system to award grades after the government cancelled this summer’s exams as a result of the coronavirus crisis and the school closures that are likely to remain in place for the rest of the academic year. Ofqual, which oversees schools’ public examinations, laid out the new system to award grades after the government cancelled this summer’s exams as a result of the coronavirus crisis and the school closures that are likely to remain for the rest of the academic year.
The new system will affect more than a million pupils studying for GCSEs and A-levels in England this year, as well as those taking vocational and technical qualifications at schools and colleges. The government and regulators in Wales are expected to announce a similar system shortly. The new system will affect around 1.5 million pupils studying for this year’s GCSEs, A-levels and AS-levels in England as well as many in Wales. Details are still unclear for those taking BTec and vocational or technical qualifications at schools and colleges.
Under the system examination boards will ask schools to recommend a grade for each pupil in each subject, and ask the schools to “rank order” each candidate within each grade. Experts have cautioned that relying on teacher assessments is likely to penalise students from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to Jo Grady, the secretary general of the University and College Union.
But each candidate’s final grade will then be assigned using a model to be developed by Ofqual, which will take into account the prior attainment of the year group of students at each school and college, and the results of the school or college in recent years, as well as the expected national outcomes across all pupils in England. “Our primary concern is that disadvantaged students are the ones most likely to miss out. Research shows that they fare badly when it comes to predicted grades and they are less likely to be able to put life on hold and delay sitting exams, or have access to the tools required to navigate any appeals system,” Grady said.
Schools – or each examination centre – will be asked to provide “a fair, reasonable and carefully considered judgment of the most likely grade a student would have achieved if they had sat their exams this summer,” Ofqual said. But the assessment will be kept confidential and not shared with individual students. Daisy Christodoulou, the director of education at the assessment organisation No More Marking, said Ofqual’s system was likely to lessen at least some potential sources of bias.
Students will have a right to appeal against their grade, and the option to sit the exams in the next academic year from September onwards. “We are in unprecedented times and given the impossibility of holding exams it is hard to see what else could have been done. Ofqual’s requirement for a grade and rank order seem like the best information they could require at the moment and will at least help to iron out inconsistencies between centres,” she said.
Sally Collier, the chief regulator of Ofqual, said: “We have worked closely with the teaching profession to ensure that what we are asking is both appropriate and manageable, so that everyone can have confidence in the approach. I would like to take this opportunity to thank teachers and school leaders for making this process work for students during these very challenging times. Sally Collier, the chief regulator of Ofqual, said: “We have worked closely with the teaching profession to ensure that what we are asking is both appropriate and manageable, so that everyone can have confidence in the approach.”
“Please be reassured that the grades you get this summer will look exactly the same as in previous years, and they will have equal status with universities, colleges and employers, to help you move forward in your lives as planned.” In a message to students, Collier said that “the grades you get this summer will look exactly the same as in previous years, and they will have equal status with universities, colleges and employers, to help you move forward in your lives”.
Hamid Patel, the chief executive of the Star Academies group, said he welcomed the announcement by Ofqual as fair with a minimum of bureaucracy. But he raised concerns about how pupils taking GCSEs a year early, in year 10, would be treated. Hamid Patel, the chief executive of the Star Academies group, welcomed Ofqual’s announcement as fair and with a minimum of bureaucracy, but he raised concerns about pupils taking GCSEs a year early in year 10. Ofqual is consulting on whether they sit the exams next year instead of being awarded a grade for their work this year.
He said: “Clearly, we would have all wanted the examination season this summer to continue as planned. However, that is not possible as we have a duty first and foremost to ensure the wellbeing and safety of pupils, families and staff, including saving lives. “Clearly we would have all wanted the examination season this summer to continue as planned,” he said. “However, that is not possible as we have a duty first and foremost to ensure the wellbeing and safety of pupils, families and staff, including saving lives.”
“In the longer term, I look forward to taking part in the consultation process around whether year 10 pupils who have completed GCSEs in some subjects already and would have taken exams this summer like those in year 11, will need to study those subjects again next academic year. I would like those year 10 students to be awarded a grade this summer so they do not have to study the same content again. Otherwise they will not be able to study new subjects that they are planning to, and schools will need to recruit many more teachers.” Under Ofqual’s new system, schools will be asked to recommend a grade for pupils in each subject, and to “rank order” candidates within each grade, from the pupil the school is most confident about receiving that grade to the least. The assessments will be kept confidential and not shared with individual students.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, also welcomed the details as pragmatic and avoiding placing any extra burden on schools to collect evidence. Each candidate’s final grade will be assigned by the exam boards using a model under development by Ofqual, using the prior attainment of the year group at each school and college, each centre’s exam performance in recent years and the expected national outcomes for all pupils.
“Of course, this is not a seamless solution. Students will have been expecting to go through a very different process. However, their grades will now be determined by the professionals who know them best: professionals who are well-equipped to make these judgments, and we hope that gives students confidence that they are in safe hands. The regulator said schools would submit their assessments to the exam boards from 29 May, and that it hoped to publish the final grades on or before the usual mid-August results season.
“It will be extremely important for employers, universities and other places of work and study to play their part in supporting this year’s alternative arrangements, so that students can have confidence that their hard work will be judged correctly and valued in the same way as in previous and future years.” Ofqual’s announcement left questions still to be answered, however, among them how appeals against grades awarded will be conducted and when students will have an opportunity to “re-sit” their exams next year.
The regulator also said it was still considering how to award grades for external candidates, those taking the exams without a formal affiliation such as students being home-schooled.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, welcomed the move as pragmatic and avoiding extra burdens on schools.
“Of course this is not a seamless solution. Students will have been expecting to go through a very different process. However, their grades will now be determined by the professionals who know them best, professionals who are well-equipped to make these judgments, and we hope that gives students confidence that they are in safe hands,” he said.
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary for England, said: “Despite the difficult circumstances we are facing, this guidance provides assurance to students, parents and schools that grades awarded this summer will accurately reflect students’ abilities and will be as valid this year as any other.”