Last week the government released details of the amendments that would be made to selected GCSE courses for this year to support with the disruption that schools, students and communities have endured over the previous few years.
It is important that our students are fully aware of these changes, and to provide you as parents and carers with all of the information necessary to ensure that you can best support your youngsters at this important stage of their education.
The changes confirmed already are shown below:
An amended formula sheet will be provided for use in the exam for Math’s, Combined Science, Physics
Whilst it is overwhelmingly expected that the Summer GCSE Examinations will take place in 2023, it is a requirement that we put in place a contingency plan that falls in line with the current government guidance should exams not be able to take place either in their full or partial form. I have detailed below how this process will work within the College.
Contingency Plans – Centre Assessed Grades 2023
- Please be aware that the process described here will only be used to form a student’s final grade in the event of significant exam disruption. We do not currently envisage this scenario. A similar contingency was required last year and was not required.
- Students will complete assessments throughout the remaining course of Year 11, covering substantial parts of the syllabus already covered (without covering the whole of the specification
in one go) – for example a past paper or mock exam. - These will be marked internally and feedback on performance will be given to students about how they have performed, however, in line with national guidance, students will not be informed
of any final centre assessed grade. - Students will complete assessments of this style throughout the year.
- Should students be sitting an assessment that WILL form part of a centre assessed grade,
students will be informed to allow for adequate preparation. - Students will be informed of the topic areas that will be covered as part of the assessment; however, they will not be informed or given guidance as to the content of specific questions. The
aim is for the assessments to replicate the summer exams as closely as possible.
Guidance from the Department for Education states that, students taking GCSEs should be assessed under exam-like conditions wherever possible.
For example, students:
- should not know the questions in the assessment beforehand
- should work independently and without assistance (other than as required for a reasonable adjustment)
- should not have access to books or revision notes
- should be supervised during the assessment, though centres do not have to use external invigilation
- should be assessed under timed conditions equivalent to those under which they would expect to complete the assessment (or part of an assessment) during their exam
Using this information to form our most robust, fair and purposeful contingency plan, we will utilise assessment windows that were already scheduled for Year 11 students to form the basis of any
judgments we will be required to make.
The Mock Exams completed in February/March will form the first part of these ongoing assessments.
Should further disruption occur – we will run a further round of assessments during the regular examination window in May/June to provide further evidence.
I will provide students with more information regarding this process upon their return to school after the Christmas break.
Using this information, it is important that all students strike a strong balance between keeping focused towards the more likely scenario of summer examinations, whilst also remaining fully aware that any major assessments completed between now and next summer could form the basis of their final grade in the event of exam disruption.
We ask that students work with us, with maximum effort, to provide us with the evidence we require to provide the grades they deserve should there be any exam disruption in 2023.
Whilst we appreciate that this may be a time of great concern and anxiety for your children, please do be assured that we remain committed to working with you to ensure that students achieve a grade that is a fair reflection of their ability.
Should you have any further questions regarding the process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Dr Ian Willoughby
Deputy Headteacher