Ofqual consualtation on GCSEs and A Levels

[Piggywaspushed]

is in:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/906173/Consultation_decisions_-_proposed_changes_to_the_assessment_of_GCSEs__AS_and_A_levels_in_2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3x1vme8nUn9rklzH7wqQbGaOhXMI1ww9ZSnnI45Vq50L__3APS3SiJeck

Space for ranting or gloating in thread below...

Not massively impressed for my subject. Will be interesting to see what the exam boards put out now and get my head around what I will now be assessing.

This gives subject level responses:

The delight of some subjects over others with the original proposals makes my blood boil. Why couldn't Ofqual conclude from that that all subjects should be as happy??

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/906102/SUBJECT_ANNEX_to_the_Summer_2021_Consultation_Analysis_310720.pdf

What a croc! Wrong decisions imo, I am very sorry for Yr10 into 11 for September. No content reduction makes it very difficult to cover the whole course.

I thought the survey was very poorly worded and confusing in places - I wonder if that had an impact on responses?

I thought so, especially the very first question. I still have no clue if I answered that 'right'.

There are some comments on cost that , had I known that was the kind of thing they wanted to know , I would have said lots about . I obviously put my comments about copyright and public broadcasting on the wrong response!

Very low volume of responses for some subjects

Thank you, I hadn't read that one. I'd better brace myself for a lot more work next year

Some subjects weren't even included

Really? Such as?

Some of the really small entry ones like obscure languages but I'm sure they'll say they all come under MFL. I also swear Statistics wasn't on their as an option when I took the survey but it's in the results.

Oh right, I see. I am really pissed off that there was a small response for my subject. Easy to overlook the strength of feeling.

So are they saying it’s still a possibility for the exams next year to be later in June/July or not? Really concerned for my son who is about to go into Y11.
I agree that the consultation was worded incredibly badly, it was like it was designed to make you answer the questions wrong.

That's in a different response document which I can find and post but it seems there was no answer to that one.

It says:
However, in its response, Ofqual said that while there was support for delaying exams, a “number of risks and issues were highlighted in the responses, including concerns about the likely impact on the dates by which results could then be published”.
“The key decision for Ofqual on the timetable is whether to change our rules to allow the exams boards to offer exams in July 2021 as well as in May and June. However, changes to the exam timetable are not for Ofqual alone.
“We will work with DfE, the exam boards, colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland, and higher education to undertake a further analysis of the options, the risks and the mitigations, before taking a decision.”

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/906101/Summer_2021_Consultation_Analysis_310720.pdf

Basically no change for my subject (Science to GCSE and Physics at A-level). They can watch practicals instead of doing them they will still have to know the detail though as they could come up on the exam!

The content is massive- we have mapped it out for Y11 and Y13 and it's so tight

I feel sorry for the kids doing their exams next year

Urgh - primary teacher here but with Y10/11 DS. I was hoping for more. DS has really struggled and he’s a top set type. I know he’s so far behind his set 1 peers already but if he moves sets it will knock him so much and I’m not sure it will help. He also doesn’t have the stamina to work really hard next year. He’ll crash and burn before the exams, especially if they are moved later in the year. (Physical disability and EHCP)

A lot of this was political I am sure. Too many changes would make it look as if they are worried about next year...

Not a teacher so hope it’s ok to post here

Oldest child doing 3 content heavy arts A levels next year. One is Geography the waffle re NEA is meaningless- some schools had completed this prior to lockdown my dc was supposed to do theirs first week of lockdown- I can’t see how this is a level playing field.

Other child taking 10 GCSEs next summer incl triple science, French, history, music and drama. So lots with changes. Broadly happy with proposals although they are behind in drama as the devised should have been examined this year.

TLDR massively worried about A levels, less so about GCSES but it’s Gousto be just an awful exhausting year for students and teachers devoid of much fun

Gousto?!?! Where did that spring from - should read going to be

I can't disagree with your final paragraph I'm afraid.

I teach a subject that ahs been utterly shafted by the whole thing.

@PumpkinPie2016

Basically no change for my subject (Science to GCSE and Physics at A-level). They can watch practicals instead of doing them they will still have to know the detail though as they could come up on the exam!

The content is massive- we have mapped it out for Y11 and Y13 and it's so tight

I feel sorry for the kids doing their exams next year

I'm the same; chemistry and biology with a bit of BTEC thrown in for Post 16.

We are literally down to the wire, and current 12s have not engaged well in some cases.

Piggy are you English? (a guess from your username). I don’t “get” how the gcse lit changes will work? So for AQA you’d have to do Shakespeare but then could do 2 out of AIC, poetry and J&H? Presumably they’d retain the unseen poetry? If nothing else it’d cheer up a load of 15 year olds if they didn’t have to do J&H!

I teach 3 subjects one of which is English yes!

We await exam board guidance but the feeling is unseen will remain, yes.

The general feeling on Twitter seems to be for dropping the poetry although not sure why really . Sadly, I think my school will ditch 20th century text because we haven't taught it yet.

That’s a shame re 20th C but understandable. My dc school hasn’t done Shakespeare and hasn’t quite finished poetry so they will have to do all 4.

3 subjects- what a nightmare 😒 3 sets of potential changes (or not changes).

Whilst obv GCSEs and A levels are different beasts it seems they have completely ignored the massive content of some A levels.

Youngest child asked hopefully if they were dropping the Maths non calc paper

My dc really likes the poetry (AQA Love & Relationships - their teacher has taught it with such enthusiasm throughout lockdown that they’ve all been swept along with his creativity and passion).