Teens’ early exam results
SCHOOLS in Wales have started to hand out GCSE and A-level results to pupils ahead of the official results days in August.
They are asking pupils to come in and collect results in person, or sending them electronically.
It means teenagers will know almost two months early the grades they can expect to be awarded for A-level, AS-level and GCSEs – although there is a possibility those could change on appeal.
It also means they will get them ahead of peers in England.
Universities have said they must wait until August to confirm offers, but Swansea University is among those which have said they are willing to discuss results early when applicants get them.
Early provisional results in Wales were agreed as part of the process for teacher-assessed grades after exams
were cancelled again this year thanks to the pandemic.
Although the official results days will still be August 10 for A-levels and AS-levels and August 12 for GCSEs, in reality schools and pupils will know their grades this month.
Prestatyn High is among those handing out A-level results as early as today.
“We are telling the Year 13s today so they have the information early, ready for their uni choices deadline on Thursday,” said headteacher Neil Foley.
“The Year 11s and 12s are having their results on June 17. All three year groups are having a formal provisional results day.
“Pupils and students are invited in for a specific time [Covid-19 safe] to receive their CDGs [Centre Determined Grades] and further information about the process, face to face from their head of year or pastoral team.
“We will also be able during these provisional results days to answer questions and head off any appeals where possible.”
GCSE pupils at Mary Immaculate High in Wenvoe, Cardiff, will get their results in person next Monday.
Headteacher Huw Powell said: “We will be giving out results in school next Monday.
“This will allow us to go through the initial appeal process and have pupils continue conversations with local colleges so they can secure places.
“These are of course provisional results, pending appeals. The process will also help us support pupils who may have any issues with the grades or future courses – having them with us in person we feel is important.
“If a pupil cannot make this, results will be posted out.”
Pupils at Cardiff High will be emailed their provisional results on June 25, a letter to parents says.
Pupils in Carmarthenshire will get their results between June 11-22.
Julian Kennedy, head of Dyffryn Taf in Whitland and chair of Carmarthenshire Association of Secondary Heads, said schools in the county will give pupils their results starting next week.
“The headteachers of secondary schools in Carmarthenshire have agreed that the provisional results will be issued in all schools during a results window which operates from June 11 until June 24,” Mr Kennedy said.
“This will allow each school to respond to its own particular needs, for example whether or not they offer sixth-form provision. Each school will also make its own arrangements for the formal results days in August.
“From a Dyffryn Taf perspective, provisional results will be posted out to each student along with information on the appeals process at the school.
“Additionally, the school will be providing its usual post-results support and advice service on the formal results days of August 10 and 12 to offer further guidance on routes for progression into employment.”
David Blackwell, head of St Richard Gwyn RC High in Barry, said his learners in both Years 10 and 11 will receive their provisional grades on Friday, June 25 via email.
Learners will then be emailed their final Centre Determined Grade allocated by the WJEC on Thursday, August 12.
Schools across Wales have a deadline of June 30 to send their assessed grades to exam board the WJEC.
Headteachers stressed the assessed results were provisional and said they would share confirmed results publicly in August.
Handing out what are termed Centre Determined Grades this month is part of the process arrived at to avoid the exam fiasco of last year when thousands of results were downgraded by a “mutant algorithm”.
After exams were cancelled for a second year, it was agreed late last term that teachers would assess their pupils’ grades in Wales based on work during the course and past work and results.
The system, arrived at by the Welsh Government appointed Design and Delivery Advisory Group, which includes school and college leaders and headteachers, was aimed at taking into account how much education has been disrupted this year because of school closures and remote working.
It was decided to give pupils their results this month to allow time for any appeals before results days in August, although exam board the WJEC has promised it won’t change school-assessed grades.
The WJEC said it will only ask teachers to review assessed grades if they vary between 3% and 10% from results for their school in the three years before 2020.
Pupils in England and Northern Ireland will have to wait until
August 10 to get AS and A-level results and August 12 for GCSE results.
Pupils in Scotland will get provisional results before the end of term there on June 25 ahead of Highers results day on August 10, the Scottish Qualifications Authority website says.