Dear KS4 and KS5 students
I hope that this message finds you and your family well, and that you have had a good start to the week. After a week of learning at home last week, it is lovely to have you back in school. Well done to all of you who worked so hard last week, completing your assignments at home and continuing your good efforts.
You may have seen on the news that Kirsty Williams, the Minister for Education in Wales, made her announcement earlier today with regard to GCSE, AS and A level in summer 2021. Here is a video message from her - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3ZkdqY2Tog&feature=youtu.be
You will have heard from her message that there will be no end of year exams for GCSE, AS and A level qualifications in 2021. However, this does not mean that grades are going to be agreed in the same way that they were in 2020.
Instead of exams in 2021, there will be teacher-managed assessments. As yet, we do not have a lot of information about what this means. I think that these are likely to be smaller unit assessments, a bit like a series of mini exams. Instead of sitting all of your exams in May/June in the main hall, I think that these will be shorter assessments that fit into a lesson that you will do in a classroom with your teacher. We think that these teacher-managed assessments will be written by the WJEC, and that they will also be marked and moderated by the WJEC. We don’t know yet whether there will be centre assessed grades as well.
I am sorry that I cannot give you more precise details at the moment. The Minister has appointed a group of experts, and they are expected to publish their report at the end of this term. We should then be told exactly what to expect in each subject area.
The Minister has also said that ‘removing exams frees up the entire summer term which is normally focused on preparing for and sitting exams, for additional teaching and learning’. I assume that this means that Y11-Y13 will remain in school throughout the summer term, and that these teacher-managed assessments will take place between March and July. But again this has not been confirmed. The Minister has stated that the first of these teacher-managed assessments will not happen until the second half of the spring term.
I know how hard it is to not know all of the detail yet – but this is what we know now
- You know that, if you try your best in your lessons, and complete all of the work that is set by your teachers to the best of your ability, you have nothing to worry about whatever the assessment system.
- You know that your teachers and support staff will make sure that you are treated fairly and equitably, and that we will do all that we can to help you achieve the best that you can.
- You know that we have your best interests at heart.
I will share all of the information with you about the teacher-managed assessments and how your grades will be determined as soon as I know in January. You will, of course, have questions about this – please ask your teachers or send me an email, and I will try my best to answer them for you.
So, what can you do now to ensure that you get the best grades you can this summer? Most importantly, don’t worry. You will have lots of opportunities this year to demonstrate your talent and show off your ability. You will be able to achieve the grades you desire by working at that level; work hard, focus on the assignments you are given, follow the advice of your teachers, and reach out to us for support whenever you need it. Quite simply, you should aspire (know what grades you want and are capable of) and achieve (do all that you can to make these grades your reality).
Please take care of yourself.
Best wishes
Miss Collins
