How exams will work next year
WALES DETAILS PLANS FOR GCSEs AND A-LEVELS
MORE details of how the system put in place to replace GCSE and A-level examinations in 2021 will work have been released.
It was confirmed last month that the exams were being scrapped and that a so-called Design and Delivery Advisory group made up of education experts in Wales had been formed to look at how grades would be attained.
The group has presented its proposals to education minister Kirsty Williams for what they have described as a system that will be fair to all learners.
The Minister has confirmed her intention is for general qualifications in Wales to be supported by a three pillar approach made up of nonexamination assessments, internal assessments and, assessments that are externally set and marked.
The group, chaired by Geraint Rees and made up of head teachers and college leaders nominated by regional consortia, ColegauCymru and local authorities, also worked closely with both Qualifications Wales and WJEC and they agreed that the system needed to be “fair for all learners and flexible so that learners who have had more disruption than others are not unfairly affected”.
They said the approach will “ensure that teachers can design and plan teaching, learning around assessments in a flexible way to promote
learners’ wellbeing and support their needs”.
The decision has been supported by the news that the Welsh Government is investing an additional £1.9m in education resources to support learners in years 12 and 13 in preparing for their A Level assessments.
Welsh Government is sending out open letters to all pupils taking exams to explain the decision, and sessions for teachers will be provided from the start of term in January.
They said this approach confirms that the internal assessments will not begin until after the spring half term, so schools can focus entirely on teaching until then. WJEC will provide further guidance and information in January.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “What I am providing details of today is a transparent and rigorous approach to support learners as they progress to their next steps.
“It ensures that universities can be confident of the abilities of students from Wales through
their qualifications, and it also promotes teaching, learning and consistent assessment across Wales as we all struggle to recover in different ways from the impact coronavirus has had on education.
“I was clear that any solution must be mindful of our learners’ well-being. I am satisfied we have an approach that is fair for all learners whilst minimising disruption to learning and maintaining confidence and trust in the integrity of qualifications in Wales.
“Alternative options would have required centres to design assessment materials, develop and test marking schemes, and then be responsible for appeals in relation to these.
“This would take time away from teaching and learning and could also lead to inconsistency for learner experiences across Wales.
“I am also confident these plans minimise the impact on teacher workload – teachers and lecturers are already under a great deal of pressure and we do not want to add to this.”