Our latest update follows the Government finally publishing arrangements for the awarding of examination grades this summer. As we all expected, the School is being asked to generate centre assessment grades.

After the Easter break, Mr Fox and Mr Dunckley will work with Curriculum Leaders and teachers, to apply the guidance that has been issued to schools, in a way that is consistent and fair. At this point, students and their families must note that we will not be able to discuss their centre assessment grades with them. Clearly, if we do not follow the guidance issued, we will jeopardise the results of all of our students:

“Schools and colleges have been told that they must not share their centre assessment grades with students, parents or carers, under any circumstances, until after final results are issued. This is to protect the integrity of centres’ judgments, and to avoid anyone feeling under pressure to submit a grade that is not supported by the evidence. Since the final grades for some or all students in a centre could be different from those submitted, it also helps to manage students’ expectations…”

All of the latest updates published by Ofqual can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020

Here you will find the guidance issued to schools, the guidance issued to parents and a letter directly to students. These three documents can also to be found on our School website (click here).

You will see that our centre assessment grades will likely need to be submitted in May, but we have no confirmed date as yet. We are advised that Exam Boards will publish their arrangements after Easter. Results will not be later than the published August dates and may be a little earlier.

In two weeks’ time, after the Easter break, we will advise our Year 11 and 13 students what, if anything, they need to do next. At this exact point, time is on our side, so we are urging our Year 11 and 13 students to take a proper break – exercise, read, play games and spend time with their families. For the next two weeks, take a break from academic studies.

With my best wishes

Mr A McGinnes, Headteacher
allen@buckinghamschool.org