NAHT has been regularly engaging with Ofqual and other awarding organisations on the exceptional awarding arrangements for Summer 2020. NAHT has responded to four consultations on behalf of members over the past two months. These consultations can be found below.
NAHT's response to Ofqual's consultation on arrangements for exams and assessments in 2021, July 2020
This consultation sets out Ofqual's proposals for adaptions to the arrangements for exams and assessments in 2021 to account for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The consultation covered the use of optional questions, changing the number of exams, adaptions to non-exam assessments and delays to the exam timetable. More information on the consultation can be found here.
In our response, NAHT made it clear that these proposals did not go far enough to mitigate for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to the education and well-being of students due to sit GCSE, AS and A levels next year. NAHT also highlighted the lack of any appreciation of the potential future impact on students due to individual and group isolation, local or even national lockdown and called on Ofqual to make additional plans and communicate these clearly with school leaders.
NAHT's response to Ofqual's consultation on the proposed autumn exam series, June 2020
This consultation set out Ofqual's proposals for an autumn exam series in 2020. It included questions on which qualifications would be offered, number and format of exams, timing of the series, the burdens and costs on centres, the exclusion on non-exam assessments, the appeals processes and fees, and the equalities impact.
In our response, NAHT has made it clear that the burdens and costs of an additional autumn exam series on centres are insurmountable. Instead, we have proposed that the best solution to mitigate these issues would be for local hub centres to be set up for students to take exams in the autumn term with any additional costs borne centrally by the government. More information on the consultation can be found here.
NAHT's response to Ofqual's consultation on awarding general qualifications, April 2020
This consultation set out Ofqual's proposals for the exceptional awarding arrangements for general qualifications. The consultation included questions on the processes and procedures for centre assessed grades and rank order, the inclusion of year 10 pupils and below, private candidates, the statistical methodology for standardising the results (including the use of historical evidence), correcting for bias, the confidentiality of results, the appeals process, a proposed autumn exam series and the equalities impact. Ofqual's consultations decision can be found here.
NAHT's response to Ofqual's consultation on awarding vocational and technical qualifications, May 2020
This consultation set out Ofqual's proposals for the exceptional awarding arrangements for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs). The consultation included questions on balancing consistency and flexibility when awarding VTQs, centre assessed grades and rank order, adapted assessments, delayed assessments, private candidates, the appeals process, a proposed autumn assessment series and the equalities impact. Ofqual's consultation decision can be found here.
NAHT response to Ofqual consultation on the expectations of schools and colleges to allow for calculated grades, March 2020
This consultation sets out Ofqual's initial proposals for the use of centre assessed grades and rank orders when calculating grades for summer 2020.
First published 20 July 2020