The pandemic, and resulting interruption to education, has led increasing numbers of parents and young people to think about whether being at school is the best place for them. For many of us, this period of remote learning reinforced the need for our children to be in class. While others saw it as an opportunity […]
Students who haven’t studied with an exam centre can now find somewhere to assess their work and award them a grade. Following the decision to cancel the summer 2021 exams, Ofqual announced that in place of the terminal exam they would rely wholly on teacher judgement. This presents an obvious issue for teens (and adults) […]
Help and guidance on grading pupils who should have been sitting their GCSE or A Levels exams in the summer 2021 sitting has been published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). Following the announcement by Government that exams wouldn’t take place, Ofqual determined that teachers would assess the grades. This JCQ guidance is an […]
In previous years a student’s idea of success – and many parents – is the grade they get. Essentially boiling down to how they do in their exams. And there is absolutely no denying that getting good grades is, for many, the key that unlocks the next door. But if this global pandemic has taught […]
When we look back at the last year of various lockdowns, it’s easy to see why the usual amount of course content hasn’t been taught. And, with the best will in the world – and heroic teacher efforts across the board – there’s no way that remote learning could be a substitute for being in […]
Time flies when you’re having fun. But apparently, it also goes fairly quickly when gripped in a global pandemic, enduring various tiered lockdowns, and a feeling that we’re not so much working from home as living at work. And let’s no get started on remote learning…. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a whole […]
In many subjects, it all hinges on the final exam. Many see them as the culmination of 2 or 3 years worth of study. And, of course, they are often source of great anxiety and often huge relief when they’re finished. However, just like last year, the class of 2021 will not be sitting these terminal exams. […]
There’s a universal truth that teens lock themselves away in their darkened bedrooms; headphones on, and within an arm’s distance of a screen – whether that’s a phone, laptop or a video game. This isn’t a new phenomenon. Even with a pre-disposition to languish in their caves; lockdown has curbed what little outside interactions our […]
After months of speculation and consultation, details have been announced for how grades will be awarded in 2021. The Government announced in January that there would be no exams in England for GCSEs, Vocational Qualifications (eg BTEC), AS or A Levels in 2021. Since then Ofqual has conducted a consultation with teachers, professionals, parents and […]
Growing up in the 80s, there was a real drive to teach children foreign languages at school. It’s something you can still see today with introductory lessons often taking place in primary schools. Although there are fewer students taking GCSEs in modern foreign languages than a decade ago; French, Spanish or German are still popular […]