8 June 2023
Dear Parents and Carers,
As you will be aware, A Level, AS Level, vocational and GCSE examinations are well underway. This year sees a return to “normal” exams for students for the first time since 2019. We thought it would be useful to share with parents and carers how these qualifications will be determined this year after three years of different methodologies being employed. We have shared this information during information evenings but thought it helpful for all parents and carers to have all the key information in one place.
2020-2022 Qualifications
As a reminder, A Level, AS Level, vocational and GCSE were awarded in the following ways from 2020 onwards due to disruption caused to education by the pandemic:
- 2020 – Teacher Assessed Grades. As students left school unexpectedly in March 2020, teachers awarded grades based on the evidence they already had about students expected performance. Nationally, this approach led to grade inflation with more students gaining the top grades than might usually be expected. There was no significant grade inflation at Durham Johnston.
- 2021 – Centre Assessed Grades. There were still no formal exams, but students sat assessments in school to determine their overall grade. This approach once again led to grade inflation nationally, but again, not at this school as a detailed Sunday Times investigation identified. (You can read this article here, or the full version is behind a paywall here.)
- 2022 – Modified exams. Students did sit national exams but with either fewer exams in some subjects to account for the disruption caused by the pandemic, or with pre-exam release material that identified the specific areas the exam boards would be focusing on. There was also a guarantee that, whilst grades would return to levels closer to those awarded in 2019, there would also be a safety net element to ensure that pupils were not significantly disadvantaged.
2023 Qualifications
- In theory, the 2023 exam system has reverted completely to the system used in 2019 and preceding years. However, you should note the following key factors:
- Students receive formulae and equation sheets in some GCSE exams (Maths and Physics) to try and reduce the amount they must memorise.
- There is some grade protection for GCSE and A Level grades. This means nationally that student grades won’t be allowed to fall significantly, although individual students are unlikely to notice this difference. To quote Ofqual directly: “Broadly speaking, a student who would have achieved, say, a grade 7 or A grade in a GCSE or an A level before the pandemic will be just as likely to get a grade 7 or A grade in 2023, even if their performance in the assessments is a little weaker this year.”
- A more spread-out timetable than in 2019 so that students have longer gaps between exam papers in the same subject.
- No unfamiliar vocabulary on GCSE Modern Foreign Language papers.
You can read all Ofqual’s advice to students here.
Special Consideration
A reminder that the school can apply for special consideration for students sitting their exams if their circumstances change over the exam period. Below is a list of circumstances that might qualify for special consideration taken directly from the Joint Council for Qualifications which oversees this process:
- Temporary illness or accident/injury at the time of the assessment;
- Bereavement at the time of the assessment (where whole groups are affected, normally only those most closely involved will be eligible);
- Domestic crisis arising at the time of the assessment;
- Participation in sporting events, training camps or other events at an international level at the time of the assessment, e.g. representing their country at an international level in chess or football.
Please contact the school urgently if you think this might apply to your child. You can read more on the Special Consideration process here.
Traditionally, students at Durham Johnston perform well in exams and we believe that this will continue in 2023. Many thanks for your continued support.
Should you have any questions, please contact the school directly.
Mr Wright
Deputy Headteacher