open consultation on proposed changes to assessment of GCSEs, AS and A Levels in 2021

[ArtfulPuss]

Friend who works in education and has a DC in Y10 sent me this link today to a document containing details of an open consultation by Ofqual. Reposting for anyone who's interested and might want to have their say:

'Proposed changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2021'
(from the GOV.UK website)

There's a form for online feedback on each of the proposals, and consultation closes 16th July. (Apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere; had a quick look but couldn't see it.)

We got this from our school today and I was wondering if anyone had started a thread on the subject.It looks like there will be virtually no changes to my DS's A levels, except for a possible reduction in the practical work for physics. Not sure what I think really. I appreciate it isn't easy to change things and to keep it fair but year 12 have been out of school for a fifth of the normal A level teaching time and that is bound to have had some impact.

Yes it has. My daughter is in Y10 and looking to move for sixth firm so the exams are crucial. They are mainly IGCSEs so there's the kids taking them in other countries to be considered.
Y12 parents are worried about kids having to compete with those who defer starting uni this year (and may reapply for the following year). The government isn't going to please everybody no matter what they do, but I'd like a clear decision about what form the exams will take and when they will be as soon as possible. Do think some practical work (DT for example) needs to be done by the actual student though.

There was a discussion in AIBU www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3956989-AIBU-to-be-furious-about-the-GCSE

It's certainly a very difficult one for Ofqual. I can see their rationale for not wanting to remove sections of the exam and also making it multiple choice may cause more problems than it solves.

However there does seem to be some easy wins, like making English open book and including more formulae in maths. Minor tweaks that mean the exams can still be used, but students don't have to spend time rote learning and instead can hopefully spend their time learning how to apply the skills. In the real world you don't need to remember formula or long texts so it's unlikely to be holding them back much.