Dear Year 11 Students and Parents
I trust you are all keeping safe and well.
I wanted to update you regarding the process that schools are currently undertaking to generate Centre Assessed Grades that will be used by the examination boards to determine the final calculated grades you will be awarded for your GCSEs and/or technical qualifications (such as BTECs).
For GCSEs, teachers have been allocating students within their subject a Centre Assessed Grade, using a wealth of information and data that has been accumulated over the last 18 months. These grades have been reviewed by me and other members of the Senior Leadership Team and over the next two weeks they will be submitted to the examination boards who will carry out a standardisation exercise to determine the final calculated grades that students will be awarded.
For vocational Level 2 qualifications (BTEC, NCFE and OCR) the procedure is different. The marks awarded for those units that have already been completed (whether internally or externally assessed) will contribute towards the final grade. In addition, centres have been asked to provide Centre Assessed Grades for unfinished units as follows:
- BTEC/NCFE – internally assessed units only; examination board to determine Centre Assessed Grades for externally assessed units
- OCR – both internally and externally assessed units
The awarding bodies have not asked for Centre Assessed Grades to be submitted for the overall qualification grade. Instead, they will use the above information as well as the historic performance of students at each centre and other nationally available data to determine the final grade for each student.
Ofqual has recently published information for schools and candidates on calculated grades and the grounds on which candidates can ‘appeal’ if they are disappointed with grades. In addition, Ofqual has now launched a consultation on the proposed Autumn examination series. If you are interested in finding out more information about either the ‘appeals’ process or the Autumn series please have a look at the link below:
The Y11 results collection date is 20 August 2020. The organisation of these days will depend upon the latest government guidance regarding social distancing and we will write to you nearer the date to let you know where and when you are to collect your results.
I trust this information is helpful and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Yours sincerely
Mr T Costello
Headteacher