2021 | Schools Week

GCSE results 2021: Top grades rise most at private and free schools

Private and free schools have seen the biggest jump in top grades in this year’s teacher-assessed GCSE results, figures show. Across England, the proportion of GCSE results overall at grade 7 and above—equivalent to a grade A under the previous system—rose to 28.7 per cent, up from 25.9 per cent last year and 20.7 per […]

A-level results 2021: Private schools see bigger jump in top grades

Private schools have seen a bigger jump in the number of top grades than state schools in this year’s A-level results, according to Ofqual. Labour said the figures showed the Conservatives had “opened the door to unfairness”, noting private schools appear more likely to give prior access to questions and face parental pressure over grades. […]

‘Time is running out’: Exams fiasco data promised by Ofqual to ‘rebuild trust’ delayed

The publication of data from last year’s grading fiasco, promised by Ofqual to “rebuild trust in exams”, has been delayed. Academics say the setback means “time is running out” for the data to be any use in preventing possible chaos this year. While due consideration must be given to data protection, time is running out […]

Exams 2021: Ofqual confirms changes in certain subjects, but no decision yet on delaying exams

Schools will be offered a choice of topics on which their pupils will be examined in GCSE English literature, history and ancient history next year, Ofqual has announced. The exams regulator has published the outcome of its consultation on how GCSEs and A-levels will be assessed in 2021. However, no decision has been made on […]

Dropping GCSEs only for ‘exceptional circumstances’, leaked DfE guidance states

School leaders will be told to only allow GCSE students to drop a subject in “exceptional circumstances” next year, according to draft guidance on the reopening of schools. Leaked details of the proposals were first revealed yesterday by HuffPost UK, which reported that the guidance set out how “some pupils may have to drop some […]

Government to consult on delaying 2021 exam season

The government is considering delaying the 2021 exam series until later in the summer, Gavin Williamson has revealed. The education secretary told MPs this afternoon that the government would be “consulting with Ofqual about how we can move those exams back” to maximise teaching time. It comes amid growing pressure on ministers to reveal their […]

Coronavirus: Six things we learned from Ofqual about exams in 2020 and 2021

Exams were the focus of an education select committee hearing this week, with senior staff appearing from the exams’ regulator Ofqual. Here’s what we found out. 1. Consultation on 2021 exam plans due before summer break Sally Collier, the chief regulator of Ofqual, told MPs schools needed to know what was happening with next […]

Schools need to know 2021 exam plans before summer, says Ofqual chief

Schools need to know what’s happening with next year’s exams “before the summer break ideally”, the head of the qualifications regulator has acknowledged. Sally Collier, the chief regulator of Ofqual, told the Parliamentary education committee this morning that a consultation process on plans for next year will start “in the coming weeks”. “Schools and teachers, […]