Next year’s exams could be delayed, says minister
NEXT year’s exams in Wales could be delayed in the wake of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said talks are being held with exams regulator Qualifications Wales and its counterparts around the UK.
At the same time Qualifications Wales confirmed November’s GCSE exams will go ahead as usual.
Ms Williams said any delay to next summer’s exams, to help students and teachers catch up and cover the work after school closures, would have knock-on effects such as the dates of results days.
The minister said earlier in the summer that she wants exams to go ahead in 2021.
Some headteachers have said they are planning for all possibilities – cancellation, delays and centre assessments.
Examination board the WJEC is already making changes to exam specifications.
First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed in July that November exams will take place in answer to questions from members of Welsh Youth Parliament during a virtual session.
Qualifications Wales confirmed yesterday that that is still the case.
There are no details for how maths, maths numeracy, Welsh language and English language November GCSEs will be carried out in relation to guidance around Covid-10 precautions.
Speaking at yesterday’s daily Welsh Government coronavirus briefing, Ms Williams said alterations to exam 2021 specifications might include measures such as cutting the number of set texts for literature or reducing the number of case studies in other subjects.
“The WJEC, following changes made by Qualifications Wales, have already informed teachers about course adaptions to make assessments more manageable. These go further than changes in England,” she said.
“Qualifications Wales are already in discussions with other UK regulators about a change in next summer’s exam timetable. Any delay would have a knock-on effect on other matters such as progression, results days and so on, therefore it needs careful consideration.
“We need to work through the next few weeks as we move to a full return and keep this, and other issues, under review.”
Her comments came as an independent review into the exam results debacle in Wales gets under way.
Students received grades based on their Centre Assessed Grades from teachers after an algorithm agreed by Qualifications Wales downgraded thousands of results to keep this year similar to previous years.
As children and teenagers start to return to school in phases across Wales this week, the minister agreed that the number of coronavirus tests being done is likely to increase, but insisted there is capacity in the system for this.
Ms Williams said there had been a significant uptake in children taking up tests in Scotland after they returned three weeks ago.
She added that all children who are exhibiting a new persistent cough, or loss of taste and smell will be required to take a test.
“It is necessary if any child or a member of staff has these symptoms in school, they need to be tested,” she said.
The minister said any decision to close a school because of Covid-19 would be made by a headteacher in conjunction with authorities including Public Health Wales.
The Welsh Government guidance on schools re-opening states that schools won’t need to close if cases are identified and the minister has previously stated she wants to keep schools open.
Ms Williams added that headteachers and staff in schools have taken “every step possible” to make schools as safe as possible.
Questioned on whether pupils would face sanctions for “malicious” coughing in classes, she said schools would rely on their behaviour policies, which may have been amended following the pandemic.
“Exclusion should always be a last resort,” she stressed.
Schools should return to normal uniform policies to keep things as normal as possible.
On the issue of penalties for nonattendance, Ms Williams repeated that this would be kept under review.
When it announced schools would re-open to all pupils full time this month, the Welsh Government said parents and carers would not be fined for keeping children away.
Some headteachers have warned this sends mixed messages that schools aren’t safe and say penalties need to be re-imposed within weeks after schools have had a chance to show how safe they are.
The minister also reminded people again that the Welsh Government is to provide an additional £29m to schools to help pupils at crucial stages of their education.
The equivalent of 600 extra teachers and 300 teaching assistants will be recruited throughout the next school year, targeting extra support at years 11, 12 and 13 as well as disadvantaged and vulnerable learners of all ages.
This will support learners taking their A-level and GCSEs in 2021 and those known to have been affected the most while many schools have been closed since March.
Professional learning resources will be provided to support the new and existing teachers in preparation for September.
Staff will be recruited on a oneyear fixed term contract and are expected to move into educational roles in the following school year.
In response, Plaid Cymru called on the Welsh Government to take the decision now to cancel 2021 exams and replace them with centre grade assessments.
Delyth Jewell MS, Shadow Minister for the Future said: “A decision should be made now to cancel next year’s exams. That would be the fairest, least stressful way of supporting our young people.
“The Welsh Government review isn’t due to present its interim report until the end of October which in itself is too close for those learners resitting exams in November 2020.
“The final report and recommendations aren’t due until mid-December, which is too close for those sitting exams in January 2021.
“The Welsh Government has an opportunity now to cancel exams, rather than waste valuable time delaying what many feel will be an inevitable decision. The time that would be used on preparing students for exams can instead be used to ensure centre grade assessments are as robust as possible.”