3 April 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

The government and OFQUAL have today issued updated guidance with regard to the Summer 2020 examinations.  Please find attached a national letter which has been issued alongside the guidance for all students and parents of those affected.

This is an extract of the documentation received:

“Exam boards will be contacting schools, colleges and other exam centres after Easter asking them to submit a centre assessment grade for every student in each of their subjects: that is, the grade they would be most likely to have achieved if they had sat their exams and completed any non-exam assessment.  Judgements should balance different sources of evidence such as classwork, bookwork, any participation in performances in subjects such as music, drama or PE, any non-exam assessment – whether or not complete, the results of any assignments or any mock exams.

There is no requirement for schools to set additional mock exams or homework tasks for the purposes of determining a centre assessment grade and no student should be disadvantaged if they are unable to complete any work set after schools were closed. Where additional work has been completed after schools and colleges were closed on 20 March, Heads of Centre should exercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many cases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the work is done.

Centres must not, under any circumstances, share the centre assessment grades nor the rank order of students with students, or their parents/carers or any other individuals outside the centre, before final results have been issued. This is to protect the integrity of teachers’ judgements, and to avoid teachers, heads of department, senior leaders or Heads of Centre being put under pressure by students and parents, to submit a grade that is not supported by the evidence. Since the final grades for some or all students in a centre could be different from those submitted, it also helps to manage students’ expectations.”

We will begin to work through this following the Easter break and ensure that all grades are returned in a timely manner. Can I politely ask that individual staff are not contacted with regard to grades at this present time, as we need to ensure fairness, parity and compliance with the DFE regulations. Please be assured that the future of our students in Year 11 continues to be our top priority, even whilst we are closed. As a school we will make sure we help our young people to make the right decisions, at the right time and move on into the next stage of their educational journey.

Yours sincerely

Martyn Palfreyman

Headteacher