Teachers will now decide GCSE and A-level results

Exams have been cancelled by the pandemic and will instead be replaced by grades decided by teachers using a combination of mock exams, coursework and essays.

There will be optional assessments set by exam boards for all subjects, but they will not be taken in exam conditions nor decided by final grades.

GCSE results are due to be available on 12 August, while A-level results are expected earlier than the norm, on 10 August, to allow time for appeals.

The States confirmed it would follow guidance issued by exams watchdog Ofqual yesterday.

‘We will continue to follow the guidance regarding GCSEs and A-levels that will be provided by our exam boards,’ said an Education, Sports & Culture spokesperson.

‘As that guidance comes in, we will continue to work with school leaders to ensure staff feel confident with any new approach that develops.’

Both the Ladies’ College and Elizabeth College were pleased to receive the update on how GCSE and A-level grades were due to the awarded this year.

The Ladies’ College said the outcome very much reflected their submitted response.

‘Teachers’ professional judgement, with scrutiny of the evidence for fairness and the ability of a student to appeal their results, were the key outcomes that we had hoped for,’ said its principal Ashley Clancy.

‘During lockdown, and since September, it has been business as near to normal as has been feasible.

‘We are confident that our students will be able to achieve their best and that their results will be fully deserved.’

Whether the change applies to IGCSE subjects taken at the college is yet to be confirmed.

‘We will now review our internal processes to agree teacher grades and a timeline to ensure that students have the opportunity to complete their mock examinations, which were postponed in lockdown, and identify other evidence of their knowledge, understanding and their skills,’ Mrs Clancy added.

‘GCSE and A-level examination results are an important thread of the golden strand of education here and we are confident and grateful that the professional judgement of teachers is acknowledged, to ensure that we are able to support our students to be the best that they can be.’

Last summer, a controversial algorithm downgraded thousands of A-level students’ results from school estimates.

This led to a U-turn by exams regulator Ofqual allowing teachers’ predicted grades to be used.

Elizabeth College was pleased to hear that teachers’ grades would be used instead, without the complexity of the algorithm employed last year.

Principal Jenny Palmer said student assessments would be determined by teachers who know the capabilities of their students well.

‘We anticipate a similar process to last year, where the assessment is based on coursework, testing, essays and other evidence of achievement over time,’ she said.

‘Our GCSE students have also completed mock exams this year so we will be able to take those results into account.’

They are now currently awaiting further detailed guidance, including the evidence that will be admissible and the processes that will be required, to inform their planning.

‘Our young people are amazingly resilient and engaged and they are adapting and developing skills during this pandemic that will support them well in their future learning and careers,’ added Mrs Palmer.

‘Staff are on hand to support and will continue to do their very best for all our students as we learn what the next steps are and adapt to meet the requirements.’

The Education Policy Institute think tank has warned that the plans risk ‘extremely high grade inflation’.