Cancelled Exam Students To Get 'Calculated Grades'

Friday, 20 March 2020 16:53

Jersey students who'll no longer take exams this summer are set to be given 'calculated grades' instead.

It's after the UK revealed earlier this week that GCSE and A-level tests wouldn't take place to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Jersey cannot run exams independently.

Exam regulator Ofqual will work with teachers, who will be asked to say what grades they think each student would have got if the exams went ahead.

The UK government says teachers will take account of evidence such as mock exams and will be given clear guidance on how to do this 'fairly and robustly'.

The exam boards will then combine that information with other data such as previous grades to create a calculated grade for each student, which is due to be given before the end of July.

Universities are expected to be flexible 'and do all they can' to support students and make sure they can progress to higher education.

Students can choose to sit an exam in the next academic year if they want to.

"Cancelling exams is something no Education Secretary would ever want to do, however these are extraordinary times and this measure is a vital but unprecedented step in the country’s efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.

"My priority now is to ensure no young person faces a barrier when it comes to moving onto the next stage of their lives – whether that’s further or higher education, an apprenticeship or a job.

"I have asked exam boards to work closely with the teachers who know their pupils best to ensure their hard work and dedication is rewarded and fairly recognised." - Gavin Williamson, UK Education Secretary.

Jersey Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois says today's announcement is being shared with headteachers via the Education Department.