Dear Parents/Guardians of Year 12/13 Students,
As I’m sure you aware, the current stance from Welsh Government is that all external examinations, including GCSE, AS and A Level examinations, will be going ahead this summer, but with adaptations to mitigate lost teaching and learning time. However, with the rapidly changing Covid-19 situation, I would like to draw your attention to the WJEC’s recently published guidance for schools on alternative assessment arrangements for summer 2022 should there be a need to cancel exams. Essentially, this process would be very similar to the awarding of CDGs (Centre Determined Grades) last year where grades were awarded by teachers, based on a variety of assessment evidence. A copy of the WJEC’s guidance is attached. Click the link below:
Whilst this is still very much a contingency plan at the moment, it is important that you are aware that the situation regarding examinations could change at any time and you and your child need to be prepared.
Our faculty leads are in the process of planning what assessment evidence might be used to support their decisions about qualification grades if exams are cancelled and pupils will be made aware of which assessments will be used so that they can prepare appropriately for these. With this is mind, many faculties may use evidence from assessments after Christmas to support any centre determined grades awarded if exams are cancelled so it is extremely important that your child prepares fully any assessment tasks that may be scheduled.
I would urge you to discuss the importance of class-based assessments with your child and encourage him/her to prepare fully for each one in order to fulfil his/her potential. This is the start of a very busy few months for Year 12 and 13 pupils and it is important that we all work together to support them as much as we can.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Mr D Mead
Deputy Headteacher