Secretary of State for Education (): My noble Friend, the
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the School
System) at the Department for Education (), made the following
written statement on 11 October 2021:
The Department for Education committed to our intention that
exams and assessments would go ahead in 2022 in April. On 12
July, recognising that students taking exams in 2022 have had
considerable disruption to their education, Ofqual and the
department published joint consultations outlining detailed
proposals for:
The department and Ofqual confirmed the permitted scope of
adaptations for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs)
included in performance tables, Functional Skills Qualifications
and T Levels in an announcement on 6 August(opens in a new tab)
following analysis of responses to the VTQ consultation.
Depending on the purpose of the qualification, a range of
adaptations for VTQs and other general qualifications have been
or will be used including, but not limited to:
- a reduction in number of internal assessments, whilst
ensuring all content is taught
- longer and more assessment windows
- social distancing adaptations (for example, professional
discussion in place of certain practical activities)
- greater flexibility in invigilation rules (for example, to
allow subject teachers to invigilate their own subject)
On 30 September, the department and Ofqual published the decision document(opens in a new
tab) outlining the decisions taken by the department and
Ofqual following analysis of responses to the consultation on
changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2022.
The department and Ofqual engaged with a wide range of sector
representatives during the consultation period. The proposals
that were set out in the consultation received a high degree of
support and we have therefore confirmed a package of measures
that includes four elements:
- a choice of topics in GCSE English literature, history,
ancient history, and choice of topic or content in GCSE geography
- the provision of advance information on exams in those
subjects at GCSE, AS and A level where there is no choice of
content
- changes to the requirements for the delivery of practical
activities in science subjects, and assessment in art and design
- the provision of support materials in the exam in GCSE maths,
physics and combined science
We have confirmed that DfE’s policy intention is for advance
information to be published by exam boards in early February 2022
to support student revision. The government retains the
flexibility to deploy advance information at an earlier point if
there is significant further disruption to education.
The changes for both general and vocational and technical
qualifications will be for one year only.
Ofqual also set out its approach to grading for general
qualifications, confirming that 2022 will be a transition year to
reflect that we are in a pandemic recovery period and students
taking exams in 2022 have experienced disruption to their
education. Ofqual set out its plans for grading to be based
around a profile that reflects a mid-point between 2021 and 2019
grades in 2022. In 2023, Ofqual plans to return to results that
are in line with those in pre-pandemic years.
While it is our firm intention that exams will go ahead next
year, supported by the permitted adaptations, we understand that
contingency arrangements are also needed in the unlikely event
that exams cannot go ahead fairly or safely. The department and
Ofqual plan for Teacher Assessed Grades to be used in the event
that exams cannot take place, and we have jointly launched a
consultation(opens in a new
tab) on improvements to the 2021 process for GCSE, AS and A
levels and confirmed the contingency arrangements that
will apply to vocational and technical qualifications(opens in a
new tab). The consultation closes on 13 October and we will
announce final decisions as soon as possible.
Finally, we have confirmed that in 2022 results days will return
to their normal timing, on 18 August for AS/A level and 25 August
for GCSEs. Vocational and technical qualifications used to
progress in a similar way to GCSEs and A levels will be awarded
on or before the same days, and other VTQ results will continue
to be awarded throughout the year.
