Alternative Arrangements
for GCSEs this Summer 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summer 2021 GCSE exams have been cancelled.   Instead of sitting an exam, a pupil will have their grade calculated by a Teacher Assessed Grade (TAG).    We are working very hard to follow the Ofqual/JCQ/Govermnent Guideance to assess and calculate these grades.   Our Assessment Policy For Determining Teacher Asssessed Grades 2021 is attached 

 

Functional Skills Exams this Summer 2021

The Government has decided that Functional Skills exams should go ahead in most cases.    We are therefore running the following exams on site this year:   

Tuesday 8 June 2021	9.30am	AQA Functional Skills English - Level 1 Reading paper
Tuesday 8 June 2021	1.30pm	AQA Functional Skills English - Level 1 Writing paper
Thursday 10 June 2021	9.30am	AQA Functional Skills English - Level 2 Reading paper
Thursday 10 June 2021	1.30pm	AQA Functional Skills English - Level 2  Writing paper
Friday 11 June 2021	9.30am	Pearson / Edexcel Functional Mathematics Level 1 paper 1 - non calculator (25 minutes) paper 2 - with calculator (1 hour 30 minutes)

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Social Distancing Measures During Exams.

We will take every step we can to run these exams safely and with social distancing in place.  We will be taking the following measures:

• Exam desks will be spaced as far apart as possible.
• The exam room will be well ventilated
• Invigilators will wear face masks at all times.
• Candidates will be asked to wear face masks when entering or leaving the exam room.  However, they can remove their face mask if they wish during the exam.
• Exam desks and all equipment will be sanitised before each exam.
• Hand gel will be available and we will ask candidates to use it on entry to and exit from the exam room.
• Pupils who have additional access arrangements (eg. readers, scribes) will have additional measures put in place.                              

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Exams Results

Exams Results for Functional Skills and GCSEs will be available to students on 12 August.   We will email the results from 8am on 12 August to the student's email address.  Results will also be posted out first class on 12 August.

Student Guide to Awarding - GCSEs and A Levels - Summer 2021

Please find attached "Student Guide to Awarding - Summer 2021" produced by Ofqual.  This explains in detail how student grades have been calculated this year.

Appeals Process - Summer 2021

Should you not feel your grade has been assessed corectly,  unique 2 stage appeals process has been put in place this year.

• • Stage one – Centre review
    • If a student feels their grade is wrong, they should speak to their school or college first to check if there was a mistake in determining or submitting the grade.
    • If there was a mistake, schools and colleges can submit a revised grade to the exam board to consider.
       
  • Stage two – Exam board review
    • If schools and colleges don’t find a mistake but the student still believes that their grade is wrong, they can ask their school or college to submit a formal appeal to the exam board for them. Students can appeal if they believe any of the following applies:
      • there was an error in the way the school or college followed or applied its procedure for determining their grade
      • the school or college did not make a reasonable judgement when deciding which evidence to use to determine their grade
      • the school or college did not make a reasonable judgement about their grade based on the evidence gathered.
    • If an appeal is submitted to an exam board, schools and colleges will need to supply the complete evidence in support of the student’s grade.
       
• Deadlines – appeals must be submitted to exams boards by 23 August 2021 for priority appeals (for students applying to higher education who did not get their first choice, and wish to appeal an A-level or other Level 3 qualification result), or by 17 September 2021 for non-priority appeals.
• Correcting results – Students should be aware that their grade could go up, down, or stay the same.

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Exams Results for Entry Level Certificates will be available to the student on return to school in September 2021.