Exams 2021: How will grades be awarded? A Guide for Students and Parents As you are aware the national examination and assessment series scheduled for summer 2021 has been cancelled due to the disruption caused to the education of students this year. In its place, teachers have been asked to assess their students’ knowledge, understanding and skills to determine the most appropriate grade to be awarded to each student for each of the qualifications for which they have been entered. This document is designed to show you the evidence that will be used for each subject at Chorlton High School when making a Teacher Assessed Grade judgement for students. It is important to understand that Teacher Assessed Grades will be reached through a rigorous internal quality assurance process. It is vital that students continue to work as hard they can to the end of the courses they are studying as everything is now being assessed. Also, teachers will not be able to discuss current grades with students or parents for any assessments taken as they need to be properly moderated and standardised to be included as robust evidence. Some of the key points of this consultation and subsequent guidance issued to schools are: • Teachers must assess their students’ performance, only on what content has been delivered to them by their teachers, to determine the grade each student should receive. • They will use a broad range of evidence across the taught content to determine the grades before submitting the grades to the exam boards. • Teachers do not need to assess students on every aspect of each subject. They just need a range of evidence that shows their performance on the aspects they have been taught. • In most cases, the range of evidence that teachers use to inform your grade will be consistent across their class or cohort for each qualification. However, we may decide that a different range of evidence may be more appropriate to fairly inform a student’s grade, if, for example, they have missed significantly more teaching than others in their class. This document will inform students which pieces of work will be used as evidence to inform their overall grade. Students will then have the opportunity to raise any concerns about the evidence being used, for example, if the evidence was affected by personal circumstances, such as illness. Or, if they have other work that was completed in assessed conditions that they wish to be included. Teachers will make the final judgement about what evidence is to be included It is important to note that Ofqual has stated that they standard this year will mean that overall, ‘it will be no easier or harder for a student to achieve a particular grade this year compared to previous years.’ The grades we give students will be fair, accurate and truly reflect the work they have produced under the most challenging of global circumstances. We can award these grades with the utmost integrity knowing that we believe them to be the right and deserved result for every individual. Please read this guidance booklet carefully and if you have any further questions on the evidence we will be using, please contact the subject’s Curriculum Leader.
A Guide for Students and Parents
As you are aware the national examination and assessment series
scheduled for summer 2021 has been cancelled due to the disruption
caused to the
education of students this year. In its place, teachers have been
asked to assess their students’ knowledge, understanding and skills
to determine the most
appropriate grade to be awarded to each student for each of the
qualifications for which they have been entered.
This document is designed to show you the evidence that will be
used for each subject at Chorlton High School when making a Teacher
Assessed Grade
judgement for students. It is important to understand that Teacher
Assessed Grades will be reached through a rigorous internal quality
assurance process.
It is vital that students continue to work as hard they can to the
end of the courses they are studying as everything is now being
assessed. Also, teachers will
not be able to discuss current grades with students or parents for
any assessments taken as they need to be properly moderated and
standardised to be
included as robust evidence.
Some of the key points of this consultation and subsequent guidance
issued to schools are:
• Teachers must assess their students’ performance, only on what
content has been delivered to them by their teachers, to determine
the grade
each student should receive.
• They will use a broad range of evidence across the taught content
to determine the grades before submitting the grades to the exam
boards.
• Teachers do not need to assess students on every aspect of each
subject. They just need a range of evidence that shows their
performance on the
aspects they have been taught.
• In most cases, the range of evidence that teachers use to inform
your grade will be consistent across their class or cohort for each
qualification.
However, we may decide that a different range of evidence may be
more appropriate to fairly inform a student’s grade, if, for
example, they have
missed significantly more teaching than others in their
class.
This document will inform students which pieces of work will be
used as evidence to inform their overall grade. Students will then
have the opportunity to
raise any concerns about the evidence being used, for example, if
the evidence was affected by personal circumstances, such as
illness. Or, if they have
other work that was completed in assessed conditions that they wish
to be included. Teachers will make the final judgement about what
evidence is to be
included
It is important to note that Ofqual has stated that they standard
this year will mean that overall, ‘it will be no easier or harder
for a student to achieve a
particular grade this year compared to previous years.’
The grades we give students will be fair, accurate and truly
reflect the work they have produced under the most challenging of
global circumstances. We
can award these grades with the utmost integrity knowing that we
believe them to be the right and deserved result for every
individual.
Please read this guidance booklet carefully and if you have any
further questions on the evidence we will be using, please contact
the subject’s Curriculum
Leader.
1. Ofqual Infographic – How will grades be awarded in 2021?
2. Evidence used to determine your grade: GCSE Subjects
The teacher will be examining a range of evidence to allocate
grades. They will use their professional judgement alongside
rigorous assessments which are
moderated and standardised to ensure grades are as fair and
accurately reflect the work students have produced during the
course.
Art GCSE Biology GCSE Business Studies GCSE
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
Autumn 1 2020
Project 1 of Unit 1 – assessment using PLC’s
November 2020
Spring 1 2020
Autumn 2 2020
Project 2 of Unit 1 – assessment using PLC’s
February 2021
Spring 1 2021
Exam Condition Assessment
February 2021
Spring Assessment
March 2021
April 2021 Progress Check Portfolio Completion under exam
conditions and standardised moderation
April 2021 Y11 Summer Assessment under exam conditions
Paper 1
Undertaken in class with standardised moderation
May 2021 Y11 Summer Assessment under exam conditions
Paper 1
November 2020
October/ November 2020
November 2020
Mock Exams 8464 Papers: B1 F and H C1 F and H P1 F and H
February 2021
November/ December 2020
February 2021
Internal Assessments - Remote
Aspects from 8464: B2 – Homeostasis C2 – Rates of Rection P2 –
Forces
29th April 2021
Exam Condition Assessment
December 2020/ January 2021
29th March 2021
Exam Condition Assessment
Ongoing Individual Teacher assessments
January 2021
Exam Condition Assessment
8464 C2 paper
March/ April 2021
10th May 2021
Exam Condition Assessment
April/May 2021
Internal Assessment
Computer Science GCSE Dance GCSE Design and Technology GCSE
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
Spring 1 2020
July 2019 Component 1: Performance – duet/trio
Filmed, marked and standardised in accordance with AQA
procedures
November 2019
AQA Exam Paper completed in class under exam conditions
Autumn 1 2020
Paper 1 and Paper 2 undertaken in exam conditions
September 2020
Filmed, marked and standardised in accordance with AQA
procedures
March 2020
AQA Exam Paper (Specimen) completed in class under exam
conditions
November 2020
November 2020
November 2020
February 2021
March 2021 Written exam Full paper Spring 1 2021
Exam Techniques
April 2021 Internal assessment under exam conditions
Exam paper undertaken in 2 sittings
February 2021
Exam Paper
March 2021
Drawing Techniques exam and GCSE Pod online assessment
May 2021 Y11 D&T Summer Final Assessment
Exam Paper
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
Autumn 1 2019
Component 1 Coursework
September to December 2020
Component 2: Devising Drama Log Book and Devising Drama
Performances
November 2020
Spring 1 2020
Year 10 Checkpoint
November 2020
Mock Exam Component 1: May 2019 Paper – Section A and B
March 2021 Internal Assessments - Remote
Paper 1 (Reading and Writing) Paper 2 (Writing)
November 2020
January 2021 In class assessment – Remote
Component 1: May 2019 Paper – Section C
March 2021 Internal Assessments
Paper 1 Paper 2
March 2021 Internal Assessment
Text in Practice performance
**The requirement to complete a speaking assessment was removed by
Ofqual during exam changes 2020
Spring 2 2021
Component 1 Coursework
Component 1: Exam Paper – Section A and B
April 2021 Component 3 Assessment
BTEC DIT paper May 2021 Assessment under exam conditions
Component 1: Exam Paper – Section C
May 2021 Summer Final Assessment
Component 3 Paper Assessment
January 2021
Autumn Term 2019
Throughout Course
April 2021 Internal Assessments
Macbeth Spring Term 2020
Autumn Term 2019
Historic – only used when lacking further evidence
May 2021 Internal Assessments
November 2020
Autumn 1 2020
Marked, moderated and standardised in accordance with AQA
May 2021 Internal Assessments
Food and Nutrition NEA
May 2021 Summer Final Assessment
Paper Assessment under exam conditions
February 2021
Speaking endorsement
Spring Term 2021
- Half paper - Full paper
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
November 2020
Spring/ Summer 2020
CAG process Unit 01 and Unit 02 – CAG provided in June 2020
March 2020
February 2021
- Application and Understanding exam - Knowledge and Skills
exam
Autumn Term 2020
November 2020
Spring 1 2021
Spring 1 2021
February 2021
Internal Assessment
Redemption assessment under exam conditions in class
January 2021
Internal Assessment
March 2021
Internal Assessment
Unit 2 paper under exam conditions in class
March 2021 Internal Assessment
April 2021 Internal Assessment
Unit 3 Decision Making paper under exam conditions in class
May 2021 Internal Assessment
Unit 1 – written exam
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
February 2020
Y10 Exam Paper 3 November 2020
Mock Exams Higher – Edexcel 1 x non calculator paper, 1 x
calculator paper Foundation – OCR 1 x non calculator paper, 1 x
calculator
October 2020
Internal Assessment
Paper 1
November 2020
Mock Exam First Mock - Paper 1 Second Mock – Paper 3
February 2021
Internal Assessments - Remote
Higher – Edexcel 1 x non calculator paper, 1 x calculator paper
Foundation – 1 x non calculator paper, 1 x calculator
November 2020
February 2021
Internal Assessments
Higher – Edexcel 1 x non calculator Foundation – OCR 1 x non
calculator
December 2020
Internal Assessment
Paper 1
March 2021
May 2021 Internal Assessments
Higher – Edexcel 1 x calculator Foundation – OCR 1 x
calculator
March 2021
April 2021 Summer 1 Internal Assessment
Paper 1 and Paper 2 undertaken in class under exam conditions
April 2021 Internal Assessment and Statement of Intent
Paper 1
Paper 1 undertaken in class under exam conditions
May 2021 NEA and Internal Assessment
Design booklet Paper 2
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
November 2020
Mock Exam
Internal Assessment
Coursework Component 1 – Exploring the performing Arts &
Component 2 – Developing skills and techniques (Practitioner
1)
March 2021
Coursework Component 1 & Component 2 – (Practitioner 2)
May 2021 Internal Assessment and Composition recording
Component 1 paper and Component 3 composition
May 2021 Coursework Unit 2 November 2020 and Spring 2021
Coursework Component 1 & Component 2 – (Practitioner 3)
PE GCSE Photography GCSE Physics GCSE
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence
Detail
Autumn 2 2019
Autumn 1 2020
Project 1 of Unit 1 – assessment using PLC’s
November 2020
Spring 1 2020
Autumn 2 2020
Project 2 of Unit 1 – assessment using PLC’s
February 2021
Spring 1 2021
Autumn 2 2020
Spring 2021
Spring Assessment
February 2021
April 2021 Progress Check Portfolio Completion under exam
conditions and standardised moderation
March 2021
Undertaken in class with standardised moderation
Summer Term 2021 April and May
Summer 1 Checkpoint
Component 1 – split into 3 papers undertaken in exam
conditions
RE GCSE Spanish GCSE Additional Languages GCSE
Date Evidence Detail Date Evidence Detail
November 2020
Mock Exam Paper 1 and Paper 2 under exam conditions
Throughout Course
November 2020
March 2021 Spring Assessment
Autumn Term 2019
Historic – only used when lacking further evidence
March 2021
Autumn 1 2020
Marked, moderated and standardised in accordance with AQA
April 2021 Reading and Writing Assessments: Exam conditions
Writing Paper 2 Reading Paper 2
May 2021 Internal Assessment
November 2020
Mock exam Listening Paper (H and F) Reading Paper (H and F)
May 2021 Listening Assessment: Exam conditions
Listening Paper
February 2021
Speaking endorsement
Spring Term 2021
- Half paper - Full paper
Papers to be confirmed
3. Timeline – Key dates
19th April to 30th May
Throughout the half term students will continue to attend their
normal lessons. During these lessons’, teachers will be completing
exam board assessments
and internally set assessments that provide evidence for their
grades.
7th to 11th June
Teachers will standardise and moderate the assessments during the
half term. This week is also a contingency week where school can
react to unforeseen
or unpredictable challenge to the assessment schedules. From this
week onwards students time in school will become more bespoke,
enabling then to
focus on transition to Post 16. More details on this will follow in
due course.
18th June.
All Teacher Assessment data needs to be with the examination
centres by this date.
4. Supporting students – What is on offer to support
In coming weeks students can continue to access a full range of
support. Wellbeing continues to be our priority. We have
Weekly assembly messages and reminders that include mental fitness
strategies and tips
Bespoke tutor time activities based on key mental health
messages
Reminders in class on keeping themselves safe and secure and who to
see if they or their friends need additional support.
Curriculum based wellbeing activities
Opportunities to try out and perfect practical techniques in class
that help reduce stress and improve relaxation
The availability of the Year 11 team on hand at all times to talk
through any issues – big or small.
Academically we have intervention and additional revision sessions
taking place:
Most evenings after school - staff in different curriculum areas
are running bespoke sessions from 3 o’clock onwards.
On Friday afternoons, in place of Life Skills lessons – time has
been set aside for students who need to catch up with coursework
elements.
Additional resources being put on MS Teams to support with all
upcoming assessments
Clear and careful use of lessons to build towards assessments to
support student understanding
Important messages around keeping perspective as students approach
assessments – reminding them that we are looking through a more
holistic
lens.
We continue to remind students about the bigger message and ensure
they have offers for September, so they feel reassured that they
have a plan in place
and a safety net. Careers advice and guidance continues to be
provided and students are able to still access it regularly through
the Year 11 team and our
Careers Advisor. If you feel your young person requires any
specific support then please contact the Head of Year, Ms Irwin
on