JCQ

The latest information from JCQ includes the following:

Guidance for centres with entries split across awarding bodies for the same subject – summer 2020 (26/05/2020)

 JCQ Guidance on malpractice for summer awarding 2020 (22/05/2020)

JCQ Update on the Summer Series 2020 (28/04/2020 updated 06/05/2020) 

• (30/04/2020) JCQ publishes Supplementary information on validation of evidence by centres for private candidates
• (03/04/2020) JCQ’s response to Ofqual’s publication of further guidance on summer awarding in 2020
• (20/03/2020) JCQ Response to the Department for Education’s Statement
• (18/03/2020) Ofqual have released a statement on the closure of schools and the cancellation of the summer exam series

JCQ Joint Contingency Plan

Ofqual

Latest from Ofqual

Latest from Ofqual includes:

• (22/05/2020) Infographic: Process for awarding GCSEs, AS and A levels summer 2020
• (22/05/2020) Films Grading in 2020 – information for students and Update for centres, 22 May 2020: GCSEs, AS, A levels and other qualifications taken for progression
• (22/05/2020) Summer 2020 qualification explainer tool

Awarding qualifications in summer 2020 (Published 03/04/2020. Last updated 22/05/2020)

Information for schools, students and parents on how GCSE, AS, A level, vocational and technical qualifications will be graded and awarded in summer 2020 includes the following guidance documents:

Guidance for teachers, students, parents and carers: Summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS and A level, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths (updated 22/05/2020)

Summer 2020 results for vocational, technical and other qualifications – Advice for teachers, trainers and tutors; learners, parents and carers; employers and professional bodies 

Information for Heads of Centre, Heads of Department and teachers on the submission of Centre assessment grades: Summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS and A level, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths (updated 22/05/2020)

Guidance for Centres – The awarding of vocational and technical qualifications, and other general qualifications, in summer 2020 (added 15/05/2020)

Guidance for Heads of Centre, Heads of Department and teachers on objectivity in grading and ranking (added 15/05/2020)

Letter to students – Summer 2020 grading (03/04/2020)

Private candidate policy update (added 30/04/2020) Update on centre assessment grades and rank orders for private candidates and for students who have worked with other centres

Update on summer 2020 GCSEs, AS and A level grades for students in year 10 and below and for private candidates (added 05/05/2020)

Letter to students – summer 2020 grading – BSL signed (added 16/04/2020)

Consultations

(22/05/2020) Consultation on an additional GCSE, AS and A level exam series in autumn 2020 Proposals for an additional exam series in autumn 2020 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 8 June 2020

(24/04/2020 outcomes 22/05/2020) Decisions on exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading in 2020 and Analysis of responses to consultation on exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading in 2020 Consultation on the assessment and grading of vocational, technical and other general qualifications

(15/04/2020 outcomes 22/05/2020) Decisions on exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading in 2020 and Analysis of responses to consultation on exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading in 2020 Consultation on specified general qualifications – GCSEs, AS, A levels, Extended Project Qualifications and the Advanced Extension Award in maths

The Ofqual Blog

• (22/05/2020) The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on exams around the world
• (15/05/2020) Making grades as fair as they can be: advice for schools and colleges
• (09/04/2020) Arrangements for summer 2020 includes links to a short film for teachers and another for students to help everyone understand the process better

News and correspondence includes

• (22/05/2020) News story Ofqual GCSE and A level consultation outcomes and autumn exam series proposals
• (05/05/2020) News story Ofqual publishes initial decisions on GCSE and A level grading proposals for 2020
• (30/04/2020) News story A statement on our updated guidance for private candidates
• (24/04/2020) News story Ofqual consultation on awarding vocational and technical qualifications in summer 2020
• (24/04/2020) Correspondence Response to 9 April direction from Secretary of State for Education
• (15/04/2020) News story: Ofqual seeks views on GCSE and A level grading proposals for 2020
• (15/04/2020) Correspondence: Response to 31 March direction from Secretary of State for Education
• (09/04/2020) News story: Awarding vocational and technical qualifications this summer
• (03/04/2020) News story: How GCSEs, AS & A levels will be awarded in summer 2020

Exam system contingency plan: England, Wales and Northern Ireland (last updated 02/03/2020)

DfE

Latest from the Department for Education

Autumn exam series Responsibility for autumn GCSE, AS and A level exam series (22/05/2020) 

Collection Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings (last updated 29/05/2020) 

A collection of documents providing guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students including:

Announcements and correspondence includes:

• (24/05/2020) PM confirms schools, colleges and nurseries on track to begin phased reopening
• (16/05/2020) Education Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 16 May
• (11/05/2020) Details on phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries
• (19/04/2020) Gavin Williamson speech on COVID-19 response
• (09/04/2020 updated) Direction issued to the Chief Regulator of Ofqual
• (03/04/2020 updated) Secondary school performance tables in England: 2020 (provisional)

Follow DfE on Facebook,  DfE on Twitter

Public Health England and Department for Education

COVID-19: guidance for educational settings (updated 20/05/2020) The latest guidance for schools and other educational settings about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19

Qualifications Wales

Coronavirus – Covid-19 Latest news and blogs

Coronavirus – Covid 19 FAQs

The latest from Qualifications Wales (updated 26/05/2020) includes:

Consultation

• (28/04/2020) Consultation on the arrangements for summer 2020 to help shape the way grades and the appeals process will operate during this exceptional year launched. This consultation closed on 13 May 2020.

Information for centres

• (22/05/2020) Ofqual consultation outcomes – 22 May 2020
• (18/05/2020) Updated information for centres on the submission of Centre Assessment Grades – 18 May 2020

See earlier information here

Qualifications Wales statements

• (22/05/2020) Ofqual consultation outcomes

See earlier statements here

Stakeholder statements

• (14/05/2020) The awarding of vocational and technical qualifications, and other general qualifications, in summer 2020

See earlier statements here

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates

DfES

Latest from the Department for Education and Skills (Wales)

GOV.WALES Education and childcare: coronavirus Guidance and services

CCEA (Northern Ireland)

Latest CCEA news

Frequently Asked Questions Summer Awarding

The latest news includes:

• (28/05/2020) Centre Assessed Grades submission for Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) to Awarding Organisations
• (26/05/2020) Ofqual extraordinary regulatory framework: VTQ, Covid-19 Conditions and Requirements and Ofqual App – Qualification Explainer Tool
• (updated 22/05/2020) CCEA Regulation consultation on appeals process for Summer 2020 qualifications The consultation closed on 21 May 2020.
• (15/05/2020) Guidance for Centres – What to expect for the awarding of Vocational Qualifications – Summer 2020 and Guidance for Centres – What to expect for the awarding of Vocational Qualifications – Summer 2020
• (12/05/2020) CCEA Regulation Publishes Further Guidance Regarding Private Candidates
• (07/05//2020) Awarding of Essential Skills Qualifications (ESQs) during summer 2020
• (01/05/2020) How CCEA Occupational Studies will be awarded in summer 2020

See earlier news here

Department of Education (Northern Ireland)

Department of Education releases on COVID-19 (coronavirus) provides the latest information in relation to Covid-19 (coronavirus) and its impact on education services

Information and updates from The Exams Office

• (26/05/2020) JCQ have published Guidance for centres with entries split across awarding bodies for the same subject – summer 2020
• (22/05/2020) The Exams Office update 4: Summary of Ofqual information Summer 2020 awarding update issued
• (22/05/2020) JCQ have published Guidance on malpractice for summer awarding 2020

(22/05/2020) Ofqual have:

• published a statement, analysis and decisions in response to their consultation on exceptional arrangements for awarding GCSEs, AS, A levels, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths. Ofqual have also published an infographic on the process for awarding GCSEs, AS and A levels summer 2020 and updated their information for students and schools and colleges films
• launched an autumn series consultation closing on 8 June. The Exams Office encourages relevant staff in member centres to respond
• updated their Guidance for teachers, students, parents and carers document and Information for Heads of Centre, Heads of Department and teachers on the submission of Centre assessment grades document
• published the consultation decisions on the assessment and grading of vocational, technical and other general qualifications

(19/05/2020)  Now dates on when to submit centre assessment grades and rank orders been confirmed, gather information starting to be provided by awarding bodies on how to submit grades and rank orders. Example links to start to gather information include:

AQA, OCR, Pearson, WJEC and Eduqas

The links above were correct as at 22/05/2020 – remember to check with your awarding bodies for the latest updates and any available online training events that may be offered

(07/05/2020 updated 15/05/2020) We appreciate that exams officers and their centres have questions about submitting centre assessment grades and rank orders. Gather information provided by awarding bodies on the window for  submitting these for the general qualifications – GCSE, AS and A level, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths. Confirm if there is any exception to the deadline for submitting endorsement grades for spoken language in GCSE English Language and practicals in A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Example links to gather information include:

AQA Key dates for summer 2020, OCR Summer 2020 Timeline – General qualifications, Pearson Key dates and deadlines for General Qualifications, Eduqas Centre assessment grades; Spoken Language Endorsement

The links above were correct as at 15/05/2020 – remember to check for the latest updates. Where relevant to your centre, also gather information from your awarding body/bodies relating to vocational, technical and other general qualifications.

• (06/05/2020) The Exams Office – Members update May 2020 emailed to members
• (05/05/2020) Ofqual publish an Update on summer 2020 GCSEs, AS and A level grades for students in year 10 and below and for private candidates here
• (30/04/2020) May monthly update – Message to our Members: Representing the exams officer community
• (30/04/2020) JCQ published Supplementary information on validation of evidence by centres for private candidates here and Ofqual published a Private candidate policy update here
• (28/04/2020 updated 06/05/2020) JCQ published an Update on the Summer Series 2020 here which includes updates on when to submit Centre Assessment Grades and rank orders, special consideration and access arrangements, conflicts of interest, transferred candidates, private candidates, entries, malpractice and results days
• (24/04/2020) Ofqual launched a consultation to seek views on the exceptional arrangements they have set out for awarding of vocational and technical qualifications, and general qualifications (other than GCSEs, AS and A levels). The consultation closed on 8 May 2020.
• (20/04/2020) The Exams Office update 3: Summary of Ofqual information Summer 2020 awarding issued
• (17/04/2020) We appreciate that exams officers and their centres have questions about the normal April deadline(s) for withdrawing entries to be eligible for a refund of fees. We are aware that awarding bodies are currently directly emailing centres and/or updating information on their Coronavirus pages regarding withdrawals, deadlines and fees at this exceptional time
• (16/04/2020) We are pleased that the Department for Education (DfE) has today confirmed that results for GCSEs and A/AS levels will be released on the same dates as originally planned – 20 August and 13 August respectively 
• (15/04/2020) Ofqual asked us to encourage our members to provide a response to the consultation on the summer 2020 awarding process. The consultation closed on 29 April 2020.
• (06/04/2020) The Exams Office – Members update April 2020 emailed to members
• (03/04/2020) The Exams Office update 2: Summary of Ofqual information Summer 2020 grading issued
• (30/03/2020) April monthly update – Message to our Members: Grade awarding – summer 2020
• (24/03/2020) The Exams Office – Coronavirus update emailed to members
• (23/03/2020) The Exams Office update 1: Statement issued
• (20/03/2020) The Exams Office good practice update: Keep students (and parents/carers) informed by creating and updating an area on your centre website providing links to the latest information provided by the DfE, Ofqual, JCQ and the awarding bodies your centre works with

AQA

Coronavirus and summer 2020 exams (updated 16/05/2020)

Latest information and updates on:

How grades will be awarded without exams

Entries, NEA and moderation for summer 2020 exams

OCR

Supporting you during coronavirus

Latest updates and FAQs

Coronavirus update (updated 22/05/2020)

Coronavirus FAQs

Latest updates to centres include:

• (22/05/2020) Exams Officer Update
• (15/05/2020) Exams Officer Update
• (07/05/2020) Exams Officer Update
• (01/05/2020) Exams Officer Update

See earlier updates here

Pearson

Pearson COVID-19 Supporting our customers during Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Latest updates and FAQs

United Kingdom COVID-19 (Coronavirus) update including FAQs (updated 22/05/2020)

International Centres (not including UK) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) update including FAQs (updated 19/05/2020)

UK BTEC, Work-based learning and Functional Skills assessment arrangements in light of COVID-19 including FAQs (updated 26/05/2020)

Latest updates to centres include:

• (27/05/2020) Centre Assessment Grade Bulletin
• (21/05/2020) Pearson’s guidance on calculated grades for assessments in Summer 2020 Entry Level Functional Skills, Speaking and Listening (All Levels) and ESOL Qualifications
• (20/05/2020) Exams Officer Update
• (updated 15/05/2020) Centre Assessment Grades Guidance for BTEC qualifications

See earlier updates here

WJEC / Eduqas

Latest News & Blogs / Latest News & Articles

Supporting teachers & learners during Coronavirus and FAQs

The latest news includes:

• (22/05/2020) Coronavirus update: Ofqual’s consultation on the assessment and grading of vocational and technical qualifications 
• (19/05/2020) WJEC Coronavirus update: Information to Centres guidance
• (15/05/2020) Eduqas Coronavirus update: The awarding of vocational and technical qualifications, and other general qualifications in summer 2020
• (15/05/2020) Coronavirus update: Centre assessment grades

See earlier WJEC updates here and Eduqas updates here

NCFE

Coronavirus – information and advice for customers and learners (updated 29/05/2020)

Covid-19 FAQs (updated 09/04/2020)

Cambridge Assessment International Education

Novel coronavirus – Information for schools about the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak (updated 27/05/2020)

Latest updates to centres include:

• (21/05/2020) Update for Cambridge schools on June 2020 series 21 May
• (13/05/2020) Update for Cambridge schools on June 2020 series 13 May 2020
• (07/05/2020) Update for Cambridge schools on June 2020 series 7 May 2020

See earlier updates here

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing

Coronavirus – latest news for test-takers and centres

ASDAN

(updated 20/05/2020) Notification for ASDAN Centres on COVID 19

City & Guilds

(updated 29/05/2020) Supporting customers – Covid-19

International Baccalaureate^®

(updated 29/05/2020) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) updates

Oxford International AQA Examinations

Coronavirus pandemic 2020 provides the latest updates

VTCT

(updated 26/05/2020) Coronavirus Information and Support

BBC News

Latest News: Education includes:

• (25/05/2020) ‘Virus could be here for year’ so schools must open, says education secretary
• (24/05/2020) Coronavirus: Schools in England reopening on 1 June confirmed, PM says
• (21/05/2020) Councils throw 1 June schools reopening plan into doubt
• (20/05/2020) Coronavirus: Ministers under pressure over schools return date
• (17/05/2020) Coronavirus: Schools safe to reopen, Michael Gove insists
• (14/05/2020) Coronavirus: Publish school reopening science, officers urged
• (12/05/2020) Heads say 1 June school reopening plan ‘not feasible’
• (10/05/2020) Primary schools could begin reopening from 1 June
• (07/05/2020) Coronavirus: Schools in Wales not reopening on 1 June Wales
• (05/05/2020) Coronavirus: Teachers warn of early school return ‘spike’
• (03/05/2020) Coronavirus: Could Wales’ schools return begin in June? Wales
• (29/04/2020) Schools will reopen in phases, says Williamson