ASCL comment on plans for awarding grades

Commenting on the government’s plans for awarding grades this summer following the cancellation of exams, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We support this approach to assessing students in lieu of exams as the fairest way of giving them grades in these very difficult circumstances.

“It is the right decision to give schools and colleges flexibility over the assessments they use, including whether or not to use assessments provided by exam boards. This flexibility is important because students will have been affected to greatly varying extents by the pandemic, and their teachers are best placed to know how to assess them fairly on the basis of the content they have covered to sufficient depth.

“The exam boards will provide support materials, training and undertake moderation and quality assurance to ensure that grades are fair and consistent across the country. Unlike last year, students’ achievement will thankfully not be limited by a flawed ‘algorithm’, but will be based on their continued performance.

“We look forward to seeing further detail, including around how the appeals process will work.”