Page 55 - Choice Magazine - Parents Edition
P. 55
KEEP IN TOUCH:
IMPACT OF COVID 19
ON EXAMINATIONS IN 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has
wreaked havoc on education
at all levels. Schools
and further education
institutions across the
United Kingdom have been
subject to rolling restrictions
and an unpredictable
isolation timetable.
Due to the disruption of learning, the and March 2021, it is no longer viable for these
government have confirmed that GCSEs and exams to go ahead, qualifications such as
A-Levels won’t go ahead in the summer of BTecs and Cambridge Nationals due to take
2021 as they usually would, with GCSE, AS and place in summer 2021, will be assessed in a
A-level exams in England to be replaced by similar fashion to A-levels and GCSE’s.
school-based assessments. A form of teacher-
assessed grades will be used, with provision, To find out more information, visit:
training and guidance to support teachers to www.gov.uk/government/publications/
reach their assessment of a student’s deserved guidance-to-support-the-summer-2021-exams/
grade. This will ensure grades are awarded guidance-to-support-the-summer-2021-exams
“fairly and consistently” and reflect the hard More emphasis will now be placed on the
work they’ve done and will continue to do. It quality of their ongoing coursework this year
has been made clear that there will be no use as teachers will be required to use this work to
of algorithms to standardise grades. assess their potential grades. More than ever
External exams scheduled to take place in your son / daughter will need to maintain the
the next few months for students studying highest standards possible when submitting
vocational and technical qualifications their coursework. Make sure they pay
that enable a student to demonstrate the particular attention to their level of detail and
proficiency required to enter directly into ensure they check and double to check their
employment should “continue to proceed work before they submit it.
with protective measures put in place to If at any point your son / daughter is feeling
ensure they are conducted in line with Public overwhelmed and has any concerns
Health England measures.” If your child is due about completing their coursework please
to take an exam that falls into this category, encourage them to discuss this with their
ensure they are getting the support and subject teacher or form tutor as they will be
information they require from their educational more than happy to help and support them.
establishment. For all other vocational and
technical qualifications scheduled for February
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