GCSE and A-level students have been reassured that their exam results this year will have the same “credibility” as previous years.
It was announced earlier this month that this year’s GCSE and A-level exams in England had been cancelled in response to the third national lockdown.
Instead, teachers’ estimated grades will be used to calculate students’ results, and the White Horse Federation, which manages Melksham Oak Community School, has explained that work is being done behind the scenes to ensure that the same “currency” is given to this year’s qualifications as any other year.
During an online broadcast about ‘lockdown learning’, CEO of the White Horse Federation, Dr Nicholas Capstick, said, “What’s important is that there is no difference in the credibility of a GCSE this year, or an A-level this year compared to previous years.”
The CEO went on to explain that grades allocated by teachers will be moderated and “held to account” by criteria created by Ofsted and the examination boards to “quality assure” the teacher’s assessment.
Offering reassurance to students and their families, Dr Capstick said that there will be validity in the quality of assessment, meaning that grades could not be “devalued” when comparing them to previous years.
Results will be moderated by professionals using evidence including mock exam results and online assessments.
“Children will have to work just as hard, because the evidence, rather than being tested through examinations, will be tested as a result of teachers making an assessment,” explained Dr Capstick.
Time that would be traditionally used for students to revise for exams will instead be utilised by the White Horse Federation and its schools to prepare students for further/higher education or employment.
The White Horse Federation’s secondary director, Christopher Belli, explained that they are considering how they can deliver “holistic” support to students to ensure they have the relevant skills and knowledge for their “next steps”.
This will be the second year in a row that exams have been cancelled because of Covid-19 and students’ results calculated using teachers’ estimated grades.