This year’s GCSE and A level candidates will be able to take “the full suite” of exams in the autumn if they have been unable to receive a teacher-assessed grade or would like to improve their grades, Ofqual has said today.
However, the regulator says all the qualifications with be exam only, with no coursework except in art and design.
All summer GCSE and A-level exams were cancelled this year due to Covid-19, with grades being based on teacher assessments.
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Ofqual’s decision to proceed with its plan for the autumn, after consultation, comes despite reservations from heads and exam boards.
Following the consultation (the results of which are published today) Ofqual said: “Any student unable to receive a calculated result, and others who would like to improve their grades, will have an opportunity to take the full suite of GCSE, AS and A-level exams in the autumn.”
It added: “Amongst the c.3,500 responses to our consultation on the series there was strong agreement that exam boards should offer the full suite of exams, with the same number and format of exams as in any normal series.
“Many agreed the series offered an important opportunity for students unable to receive a calculated grade, and others seeking to improve their grade, to take exams. Groups representing students who share particular protected characteristics also argued strongly in favour of the exams.”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said today: “We are concerned about how schools and colleges will be able to accommodate and manage a full suite of autumn exams alongside the huge challenge of bringing all their pupils back in September, identifying learning gaps, and putting catch-up support in place. All of this will have to be done while managing the risks associated with coronavirus.
“We had argued for the autumn series to be restricted to A levels, and GCSE English and maths. However, we understand the pressure on the government and Ofqual to provide the option of a full suite of exams in the event that pupils and parents are unhappy with centre-assessed grades in August.
“We would reassure pupils and parents that the process for centre-assessed grades is robust. These qualifications will be every bit as valid as in any other year and will allow young people to progress to the next stage of the lives without hindrance, and without the need to use the autumn series.”
Ofqual says it will confirm the exact timing of the exams in due course, aiming for AS and A levels to be held in October and GCSEs in November.
