THE head of a leading academy trust has welcomed the Government's announcement that A-level and GCSE grades will be decided by teachers after the cancellation of this summer exams as she moved to reassure parents that the process would be fair and robust.
This is the second successive year that pupils and students will not be taking exams because of the pandemic.
Education Secretary's Gavin Williamson said no algorithm would be used to issue grades, which last summer caused upset for A-level students who had their grades downgraded from school predictions by the controversial system.
Tania Lewyckyj with Catherine Anderson, headteacher of St James' CE Farnworth
(picture taken before covid)
Tania Lewyckyj, CEO of the The Bishop Fraser Trust which governs two of Bolton's top schools, said: "We are pleased that the Government ran a full consultation regarding this year’s GCSEs and A-levels and that they will not repeat the mistakes made last year with inadequate algorithms. This, at last, demonstrates a level of trust for the teaching profession from the Government."
This year students will receive their grades earlier — A-level students will receive their results on August 10 and GCSE pupils will receive their results two days later on August 12.
St James' CE High School in Farnworth, Canon Slade and Bolton St Catherine's Academy form part of the trust.
(Exams pre-covid)
Mrs Lewyckyj outlined how grades would be awarded.
She said: "Whilst the media talk about teachers awarding grades, it is far more complex than that. Firstly, teachers will use a range of evidence when determining grades, including the optional use of questions provided by exam boards, as well as mock exams, coursework, or other work completed as part of a pupil’s course, such as essays or in-class tests.
"In order for our Trust to ensure fairness and flexibility, we will assess our young people on what they have been taught. Behind this there will be a rigorous process to ensure that there is robust standardisation and moderation across the subject departments with collaboration across our three schools. We are fortunate to have excellent head of department hubs, with middle leaders across the Trust meeting regularly to address such issues. This is then supported by a further scrutiny at a senior level. Only after all this will pupil grades be submitted prior to 18th June."
She added: "In addition, we work closely with the Bolton Learning Partnership, a collaboration of all secondary school in Bolton — including Bolton School girls and boys, sixth form colleges and secondary special schools — work closely together to ensure that best practice and process is shared across our region."
Students at St James's CE High School with their GCSEs in the summer of 2020
Mrs Lewyckyj said the schools were looking forward to welcoming back all students a week on Monday.
She said: "We are delighted that we will be welcoming our young people back on the week commencing March 8.
"I cannot stress enough the need for full attendance for all, but especially those year groups that were due to sit an exam this year. They still have several months before June to make a real difference to their outcomes. It has been such a tough year for them, and we are here ready to support them however we can.
"As a result of the recent department for education announcements, we now have a plan that we can move forward with and support our young people to achieve the results that they truly deserve. They are the most resilient group of young people we have had the pleasure to teach, but it is all down to continued hard work until June."
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