GCSEs 2021: Exam board grade guidance finally released

Exam boards have today released long-awaited guidance for schools on how teachers should award GCSE and A-level grades this year. 

Headteachers have welcomed the publication but are concerned that schools will now have only 12 weeks before they must submit grades to exam boards (on June 18), describing the wait for the guidance as “frustrating”.

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The new Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) document gives schools information on a variety of topics, including how teachers should use external tasks set by exam boards, how internal quality assurance processes can ensure grades are fair and guidance on accepting private candidates.

It also gives details on the grounds on which students will be able to appeal and information on what will constitute malpractice, as well as how students can apply for special consideration. 

‘Frustrating’ months of waiting

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It is frustrating that schools and colleges have had to wait for detailed guidance on awarding grades for nearly three months since the education secretary cancelled exams and promised that contingency arrangements just needed some fine-tuning.

He added that the guidance outlined would “mean a huge amount of additional work for school and college leaders and for teaching staff, at a time when they are already under enormous pressure managing Covid safety processes, and supporting pupils after the lockdown”.

“They have 12 weeks in which to set up, deliver and quality-assure assessments for every student in every subject in order to hit the deadline for submitting grades on 18 June,” Mr Barton said.

“However, the guidance itself is helpful and comprehensive, and probably represents the fairest way of assessing students this summer in difficult circumstances.”

Some teachers have been complaining about the wait for the guidance on social media even comparing the delay to Samuel Beckett’s existential play Waiting for Godot.

Waiting for Exam board guidance..... pic.twitter.com/D3l4wmgbxv

- Andy Byers (@Framheadteacher) March 24, 2021

One English teacher reworked the lines of the play to say: “Let’s assess the kids’ ‘We can’t’ ‘Why not?’ ‘We’re waiting for Ofqual.”

Philip Wright, director general at JCQ, said: “JCQ and the [exam boards] appreciate the urgent need for detailed guidance on how grades will be awarded fairly and appropriately this summer.  

“We have worked with Ofqual and the DfE to ensure our guidance has been published as quickly as possible following the outcomes of the conclusions of their consultation.  

“We understand, recognise and applaud the incredible effort of teachers in supporting students and their families over these tumultuous months.

“As we have developed the guidance, we have focused on three things: how best we can support teachers with helpful information, materials and templates; how we ensure compliance with Ofqual regulations and DfE requirements; and how we can keep the administrative burden for centres as manageable as possible.”

‘A long time in limbo’

Dame Alison Peacock, chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching, said: “It has been a long time spent in limbo since the decision was taken that exams would not go ahead.

“We now have the guidance and our teachers will work as hard as possible to prepare. However, with such a small window to get ready, many teachers will face the prospect of working through the Easter holidays to prepare and start collating data. This is even though many teachers are exhausted having managed the return to in-person teaching.

“It is good to see steps being put in place to reduce the risk of outside interference and pressure. We now need to see the whole profession and government come together to support our teachers as they move forwards with this guidance. This must include no sudden announcements further adding to workload. The Chartered College of Teaching will do everything possible to ensure teachers are supported and confident in taking these next steps and ensuring the fairest possible outcome for their students.”

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said:  “This year, we are asking those who know pupils best - their teachers - to determine grades for young people.

“Teachers have already done so much in our year-long battle against this pandemic and I want to thank them for the part they’re now playing in helping ensure students are not held back by Covid-19.

“The guidance published today will support teachers with those decisions and support schools and colleges with their own processes, helping to maximise consistency across the country and ultimately maximise fairness for our young people.

“We trust teachers in their decision-making and students can be confident that they will receive grades that enable them to progress to the next stage of their lives.”