Update on the awarding of GCSE grades this summer

To: Year 11 students and their parents and carers

 

Update on awarding GCSE grades

When I spoke to Year 11 on Thursday morning I promised that I would keep you all up to date with developments in the awarding of your GCSE grades.  Yesterday afternoon the government published some further guidance which is available here.  Part of the guidance says

 

"The exam boards will be asking teachers, who know their students well, to submit their judgement about the grade that they believe the student would have received if exams had gone ahead.

To produce this, teachers will take into account a range of evidence and data including performance on mock exams and non-exam assessment – clear guidance on how to do this fairly and robustly will be provided to schools and colleges"

 

It also says that 

 

"We recognise that some students may nevertheless feel disappointed that they haven’t been able to sit their exams. If they do not believe the correct process has been followed in their case they will be able to appeal on that basis. In addition, if they do not feel their calculated grade reflects their performance, they will have the opportunity to sit an exam at the earliest reasonable opportunity, once schools are open again."

 

So, we wait for guidance on how we are to assess your grades and, again, I will update you as soon as I know.  The bottom line is that your work still matters and you need to continue to study and communicate with your teachers.  

 

On another note, I am sorry that I was not able to say individual goodbyes at the end of yesterday - I spoke to you in the assembly at the start of the afternoon, but then had to go and interview new French teachers by video link.  I know that sounds odd at the current time, but when the school reopens we need to have the right number of teachers and the interviews had been organised before we knew that you would be leaving.  The photos from yesterday are on the website (with more to come) and I am so glad that we were able to give you such a good send-off, thanks to the quick hard work of so many people here.  I look forward to seeing you at the Prom when it is re-organised once all of this is over.  

 

Keep in touch, work with your teachers, carry on studying, and stay safe.  

 

Best wishes to you and to your families.

 

James Harris

Headteacher