ASCL comment on exam adaptations

Commenting on the Department for Education press release about the publication of revision help for students on Monday, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We look forward to seeing the information being published to help students focus their revision for this summer’s exams. It is extremely important that this really does help to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on learning, and we will be studying it in detail to ensure that it provides fairness to students of all ability levels.

“This is clearly a very difficult situation because students have been affected to such hugely varying extents by the pandemic. Creating a level playing field in these circumstances is exceptionally challenging. However we hope that, taken together, the mitigations that are being put in place will provide fairness.

“On balance, we support the decision to go ahead with adapted exams this summer. Students deserve the opportunity to show what they can do in formal public exams, and it seems right also to be taking a step back towards normality. That doesn’t, however, mean that the exam system as it currently stands is right for all students, and we continue to support the case for longer term reform.”