Why not bring back coursework for GCSEs/A levels?

[notevenat20]

There seems a serious risk that exams won't run again in Summer 2021. Would it make sense for the govt/examining boards to introduce assessed coursework for this academic year? Maybe also some "controlled assessments"?

If the exams run then these can make up a low percentage of the mark but if they don't they can still awards grades.

Or are those not sensible ideas?

@notevenat20

The qualifications last summer were already accredited. You're proposing changes to qualifications - which requires consultation and that takes time.

Sorry I was referring to the made up grades the pupils were given that changed at the last second. That can't have been accredited was it?

There were no made up grades. Teachers worked hard to give the best grade they thought applied to each child based in the work they had done during the year. The government then ' made up a grade' by applying an algorithm that had no basis in reality or fact. That algorithm was then taken away.

Students ended up with higher grades ( on average) than previous years because they were assessed differently. It is like comparing apples and pears. That doesn't mean the assessment measure is wrong or worthless, just that it can't easily be compared with previous years.

There’s going to be an announcement on GCSE’s in the next few weeks I believe.

I think they’ll cobble something together with coursework/ teacher assessment / cags for the 2021 cohort. They can’t go ahead with exams as it’s an extremely unfair playing field - there are some kids in high covid rate areas that have only been at school for a few days since 1 Sept due to repeated isolations. And some kids who have 100% attendance.

There are of course many issues with fairness no matter what is decided. But I think the original exam papers where the kids won’t recognise some of the content (as run out of time to teach it) is the unfairest of all.

He was definitely at least a little bit sad about being caught.

Well, I'm sure HE was. I just meant I wasn't.