Wales considers cancelling GCSE exams next summer

THE Welsh ex am regulator has followed Scotland and proposed cancelling GCSES next summer.

Qualifications Wales said that A-level exams should go ahead but with just one exam per subject plus another arranged as a backup for students who cannot make the first one.

The Welsh regulator said that GCSES and As-levels should have “external assessments” but not during the normal exam season next summer.

Grades for GCSES and As-levels should be awarded based on coursework and a set of common assessments taken during the course of the school year, the watchdog recommended.

The Welsh exam regulator is also recommending that schools and colleges are given “windows of opportunity” for when assessments take place.

For A-levels, in addition to coursework and set tasks, students would sit one exam per subject but with a backup opportunity if a pupil is ill or is self-isolating.

Earlier this month, John Swinney, the Scottish education secretary, announced that National 5 exams – which are equivalent to GCSES – would not go ahead next spring and that awards would instead be granted based on coursework and teacher judgment.

Traditional Higher and Advanced Higher examinations, which are equivalent to AS and A-levels, would take place, he said, as long as public health advice stated that it was safe.

However, Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, has so far insisted that exams in England will go ahead next summer with a three-week delay to allow for more teaching time. Earlier this month the English exam watchdog revealed that exams could include more multiple-choice questions.

Pupils may be allowed to bring formula sheets into science exams, under plans being considered by Ofqual, to ensure pupils are not put at a disadvantage for having missed out on lessons.

Dame Glenys Stacey, the interim chief regulator, said that Ofqual was looking at a number of ways exams could be amended.

The Welsh Government is due to make a final decision on Nov 10.