GCSEs 2021 ARE YOU READY Summer 2020 schools

GCSEs 2021

ARE YOU READY? ?

• Summer 2020… schools and colleges were asked to submit ‘the most likely grade a student would have achieved if they had sat their exams this summer and completed any non-exam assessment’. This was, in effect, a predicted grade. GCSEs 2021… a quick guide • Summer 2021 – teachers ‘should make a holistic judgement of each student’s performance on a range of evidence relating to the subject content that has been delivered by their teacher (either in the classroom or via remote learning) … • [the] qualification grade should reflect what a student knows, understands and can do. ’ Every ‘exam board will require each school, college or other exam centre to submit a grade for each student, based on an assessment of the standard at which they are performing’. • Simply put…this year, grades must be based on evidence and not the potential of the candidate.

What evidence can be used? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Student work produced in response to assessment materials provided by the exam board, including groups of questions, past papers or similar materials such as practice or sample papers. Student work that reflects the specification, that follows the same format as exam board materials and has been marked in a way that reflects exam board mark schemes. This can include substantial class or homework (including those that took place during remote learning), Internal tests (STEP Assessments) taken by pupils and mock exams taken over the course of study. Records of a student’s capability and performance over the course of study in performance-based subjects such as music, drama and PE. Records of each student’s progress and performance over the course of study i. e. from Year 9 Non-exam assessment (NEA) work (often referred to as coursework), even if this has not been fully completed.

, 1 1 r a e Y f o s k ee w w e f l a n i f r NG I S S In you E S S A n i g e lb l i w s r e h c a e E t S C G your e h t e n i erm t e d o t r e d r o t. s u g you in u A n i e v i e ec r l l i w u o y e th d gra 2 1 y a d s r u h T n o s i y Results Da August How will you be assessed? • Step assessments in class spaced over the next few weeks • Final assessments (a bit like a mock) • Any work completed in class in exam conditions • Submitting your coursework / project work or modules for moderation

The Timeline: 8 school weeks! 40 maths lessons / 48 English lesson s / 48 science less 24 Option A, 24 O ons ption B and 24 Op tion C lessons Week 1 – 22 nd March: assessment calendars shared in lessons 26 th Week 4 – April: timed tests Week 8 – 28 th May: complete final assessments and coursework Week 2 – 29 th March: in-class assessments / past papers 2 week Easter holiday: in-school revision classes Week 3 – 19 th April: in-class assessments / past papers Week 5 – 4 th May: in-class assessments / past papers Week 6 – 10 th May: start of final assessments Week 7 – 17 th May: final assessments continue

Next week… • You will receive an Assessment Calendar • This will list dates, times and location of when you will be tested in each subject AND what kind of assessment it is (timed essay, past paper, in-class test, etc. ) • This calendar will also be published on our website page Year 11 Steps to Success – Little Lever School (littlelever. bolton. sch. uk)

How will we ensure a correct and fair grade is awarded? 1. You will NOT be tested on any area/topic you have not been taught, either in school or remotely 2. All work will be marked by a teacher other than your own (where possible) 3. You will not write your name on any test – just your exam candidate number (you will be given your candidate number on a piece of card which you must keep safe) 4. All students will complete assessments on the same date (where possible) 5. You will not be told assessment questions before the assessment date, however… 6. …you will be given a list of general areas to revise to help focus your revision.

How will we support you? 1. Don’t panic!! These assessments are part of a bigger picture! 2. This year, teachers can consider your work and effort you have produced throughout the entire course – your grade will not be determined just on these assessments! 3. We have re-organized the Boost classes based on which subject you need the most support with at the moment 4. Your teachers will provide you with additional Period 0/7 s, pre-assessment classes, Easter revision sessions and more besides to help you get ready and be confident 5. Use Nightclub to study or complete coursework 6. Use the calendar to plan your revision and home study 7. Speak to your teachers and staff in school if you are feeling concerned, stressed or just unsure what to do – we are all here to support you!

Finally. . You have more time and opportunities to show your teachers what you can do than in previous years. You can have a big say on what your GCSE Grade will be, as it’s not just down to performing on one day – but showing us evidence of what you have done so far, and what you can do over the next 8 school weeks! We are confident we will see scenes like we did on Results Day last year! We believe in you… believe in yourself and achieve things you never thought you could!