Secretary of State for Education (): The government’s policy is
that GCSE and A/AS level exams will go ahead in 2021/22, with
adaptations to take account of the disruption to education that
students have experienced. These include providing a choice of
topics or content in some GCSE subjects, advance information on
the focus of the content of exams to support students’ revision,
and support materials in some GCSE exams. These adaptations,
along with our support for education recovery, public health
measures and the approach to grading that Ofqual has announced,
will help to ensure exams can proceed safely and fairly next
summer.
However, there remains a small risk that further disruption due
to the COVID-19 pandemic will mean it is not possible for exams
to go ahead safely or fairly. On 30 September the Department for
Education and Ofqual therefore set out our intention to use
Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) for GCSES, AS and A levels in 2022
in the unlikely event that it proves necessary to cancel exams,
and published a joint consultation.
The consultation outlined proposals on how teachers should
collect evidence over the rest of this academic year to support
the awarding of TAGs, if necessary, including arrangements for
private candidates. The consultation also sought views on
improvements to the 2021 arrangements for quality assurance and
appeals.
On 11 November, the department and Ofqual published the decisions taken(opens in a new
tab) following analysis of the responses to the consultation.
The proposals that were set out in the consultation received
broad support and Ofqual have now published guidance(opens in a new tab)
for schools, colleges and other exam centres on collecting
evidence that would be used to assess students’ performance if
exams were cancelled. The guidance takes a proportionate approach
and is being published now so that teachers know how to collect
evidence from their students in advance of any decision to cancel
exams. Ofqual have confirmed that, where possible, centres should
use their existing assessment plans.
Ofqual will only publish guidance on how to determine TAGs, and
centres would only be required to develop policies for awarding
TAGs, if exams are cancelled.
Ofqual have also confirmed that they will not take decisions at
this point about the quality assurance arrangements that would be
used for TAGs in 2022, or how student appeals would work. These
are both dependent on the timing of any decision to cancel exams
and the reason for that decision, including any public health
restrictions in place at the time.
If it proves necessary to cancel exams in some parts of England,
exams will be cancelled for all students and the TAGs approach
will be implemented nationally.
