Coronavirus Update: Ofqual publishes initial decisions on GCSE and A level grading proposals for 2020

On 15 April, Ofqual launched their consultation on who should receive a calculated grade for GCSEs, AS and A levels, following the closure of schools and subsequent cancellation of the summer examination series in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The consultation closed on 29 April with over 12,500 responses. To give students, schools and colleges certainty at the earliest opportunity, Ofqual has prioritised their analysis and decisions on 2 proposals about who should receive a calculated grade. Ofqual’s statement is available to view online. 

WJEC Eduqas welcomes the decisions taken by Ofqual, who has considered the opinions of teachers, teacher representative groups and unions, university/ higher education institutions, parents, carers and students. Our teams are now focused on implementing these decisions. We recently advised centres not to withdraw candidate entries in Year 10 and below whilst the consultation was ongoing. As today’s announcement allows for candidates entered for exams in year 10 and below to receive a calculated grade this year, there is no requirement for centres to withdraw entries.

Below is a summary of the decisions: 

Calculated grades for students in year 10 and below 
Ofqual has decided that students entered for exams in year 10 and below will be eligible to receive calculated grades this summer.  

Private candidates 
It has been decided to only allow exam boards to issue results for private candidates for whom the Head of Centre is confident they can submit a centre assessment grade and include them in the centre’s rank order. Full guidance is available here. 

Further decisions  
Ofqual is continuing to analyse consultation responses on their other proposals for awarding GCSEs, AS/A levels, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths this summer; and will publish final decisions later in May. 
 
Consultation on the assessment and grading of vocational, technical and other qualifications 
Ofqual’s consultation on arrangements for awarding vocational, technical and other general qualifications, including proposals for early entrants and private candidates in these qualifications, remains open until Friday 8 May. 

We thank you for your ongoing patience, and would like to remind our students, teachers and centres that we remain committed to supporting you all during this difficult time.