FAQs

One of the big differences between this year and last year’s (discredited) approach is that this year gradings have to be demonstrated by actual performance, whereas last year we were asked for our best estimate of what students would have got had they sat the exam, which included an element of prediction of where their trajectory would have ended up. That is definitively not allowed this year – we can’t anticipate performance, we have to have actual evidence of it for the content taught. In general students will be best able to demonstrate their highest performance level with evidence taken at or towards the end of their 2 year course. None of the boards allow us to present “targets” for students.

Most subjects are using the mock and/or coursework as part of the assessment portfolio for each student. Most have elected to use a single paper in the forthcoming assessment window, equating to a third or half of the usual exam load. Those that haven’t been able to use historical evidence are for example those without coursework, or those where the mock was not well suited to this new purpose due to its design, objective or outcomes. Each subject is delivered differently but the “mocks” are at the same time for everyone, part way through the course. Therefore we have asked subject leaders to make a determination as to whether to include the mock grade as a piece of assessment evidence. Some have chosen to keep the mock as one piece of evidence, bearing in mind that the mocks are now several months old and many students will have made academic progress since then. In coming up with our assessment plan for each subject we have to balance the demands on students now, recognising that later evidence is generally better especially because we can’t anticipate performance uplifts this year, against using the evidence we already have that is meaningful for an overall GCSE grade determination in terms of content, duration, standard and level of control.

Students can access the subject plans using the links above (KS4 Subject Information and KS5 Subject Information).

Yes, all students who are entitled to them will have exam access arrangements in place.

If students have suffered adverse personal circumstances at the time of an assessment they should approach the subject teacher in case there is an alternative suitable piece of evidence which can be used in place of the affected piece. If this is not practicable, the student should approach Miss Evans, Examinations Officer, who will consider cases in line with normal exam board rules. Please note that special consideration allows, at most, for a small adjustment to be made to marks and that is cannot be applied for lost learning time.

In a normal year students are usually in the position where the timing of exams is known many months in advance. Unfortunately we aren’t in a normal year. Learners have already had time away from them during lockdown, and there are plenty of youngsters who need to be in school to finish practical/technological/coursework elements of their courses. For subjects that have them, these are permissible elements for the teacher’s grade determination. We still believe being in school is the best place for the vast majority of youngsters, so that we can guide revision activities and offer a wider variety of activities than someone at home. We are therefore not going to have a blanket study leave for all Year 11s/13s this year. If you feel that a bespoke arrangement would suit your son/daughter then please contact our HOY in the first instance.

The timetable is dictated by the boards. Our assessment window has been scheduled to allow us time for a rather tight turnaround, during which we are required to complete internal QA processes such as moderation and standardisation, extensive documentation, then centre level review which will include consideration of estimates and prior year results, before the grades are sent to the respective board. The boards’ deadlines are set to allow them to undertake their own quality control of the grades submitted, liaising with schools, sampling evidence and satisfying themselves before schools close for the Summer. Results are being issued earlier than normal to allow for more time in the knowledge of having them.

The 'Summer 2021 Assessment Calendar' link will take you to a page showing the upcoming assessment calendar for Y11, Y12 and Y13.

Lessons will focus on revision elements as soon as the teachers are able to do so. We believe the best place for this revision is now back in school, utilising not only the teachers but the power of peer-to-peer learning. We are being asked to grade students on as much of the syllabus as we have taught. Unlike the UK, the IOM has had fewer interruptions to normal school operations and therefore less disruption overall.

Students who study WJEC subjects will be informed of their provisional final grade ahead of their submission to the exam board. All other exam boards will publish their results in the summer -

A-Level Results - August 10th
GCSE Results - August 12th

Yes, whilst details of procedures are awaited, it appears likely that students will be able to appeal to the school on the grounds of an administrative error having been made. If this is not accepted, students are then expected to be able to appeal to the board, either on the same basis or that the grade awarded is an unreasonable extreme of academic judgement. Please note that grades can go up or down on appeal.