‘Class of 2021’ exams need more contingency planning – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Patrick Roach, General Secretary, NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union.
Next year's A-Level and GCSE exams are set to be delayed by three weeks.Next year's A-Level and GCSE exams are set to be delayed by three weeks.
Next year's A-Level and GCSE exams are set to be delayed by three weeks.

THE announcement of a three-week delay to the timetable for most GCSE and A-Level exams next year will not provide meaningful additional time for students whose preparation for examinations has already been disrupted over a number of months.

Moving the timetable is unlikely to create much additional teaching time per subject, will place significant pressure on the awarding 
system and the additional
time pressures in turning
around exam papers risks a reduction in the number of people willing to work as exam markers.

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Reducing content in examinations and enabling greater scope for students to answer optional questions must also be strongly considered in order to reduce the pressures on students and teachers.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson answers questions in the House of Commons, London, following the announcement that most A-level and GCSE exams in England will be delayed by three weeks next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.Education Secretary Gavin Williamson answers questions in the House of Commons, London, following the announcement that most A-level and GCSE exams in England will be delayed by three weeks next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson answers questions in the House of Commons, London, following the announcement that most A-level and GCSE exams in England will be delayed by three weeks next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We cannot risk a repeat
of the chaos which engulfed this year’s exam results and
it is imperative that a range of robust and transparent contingency measures are developed, in consultation
with the teaching profession, 
to address the wide range 
of possible scenarios schools
and pupils may find 
themselves in over the coming year.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

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