GCSE - Assessment Support

On this page you'll find information about what assessment in 2021 will look like at Noadswood. It will include timelines, how we will inform you of your grade ranges, what you can do to prepare for each subject (via a video from each subject Team Leader explaining to you what assessment will look like in their subject), the Tutor virtual event and how we can support you.

Our promise to you - that your assessment will be:

• Valid - our assessment will measure what it is supposed to measure
• Fair - it is non-discriminatory and matches expectations
• Transparent - our assessment process is clear and you're aware of your grade ranges from the earliest opportunity

There is a quick video explaining all the details on this page, accessed below:

Timeline

• Up until Easter - great responsive teaching in class with you engaging in your curriculum with teachers updating you what you'll need to be preparing for and studying
• End of March - exam board materials supplied (made available to you after Easter, nationally (click link))
• After Easter until end of May - main assessment window

And to aid the above, we have some specific times:

• 22/04/2021 - this website will be completed with all subject videos uploaded
• 10/05/2021 - you'll receive your first grade certificates, giving you an idea of how you're doing in each subject
• 11/05/2021 - tutor event to support with the grade range certificates, ensuring you know what support is available
• 28/05/2021 - main assessment window closes

Assessment Materials - 80/20

We are expecting the exam board assessment materials to be released to the public after Easter. As soon as these are made available, we will put them in a single location to make it as easy as possible for you to find.

It is important you know the 80/20 rule for most of your subjects (excluding BTEC / Cambridge Nationals / other subjects heavy in coursework). Your assessment grades will be heavily weighted to the evidence supplied post-Easter in the work you complete, using the exam board supplied materials. These all have very specific mark schemes and guidance for the rigour expected to assess fairly, without bias and evidence based. This doesn't mean previous work doesn't count, but it is important you prepare thoroughly knowing the work after Easter is crucial.

Assessment Timetable

We have produced a timetable highlighting when the major assessment pieces for each subject will take place. It can be accessed using the link below (click link) and it is also available via ePraise (click on your documents)

April

May

Team Leader Video Support - How to Prepare

Each of the videos below have been produced by the Team Leader of the given subject. They will include a wide range of information, including:

• Curriculum - content you've covered, what you have left (and what not to worry about)
• Assessments - what has been done and will be used as evidence as well as what the next few months look like
• Key Information - what you should be preparing for now (including specific content / were to find resources / page numbers in study guides etc...)
• FAQ for the specific subject

Revision Sessions

Team Leaders and their departments are working to be as flexible as possible to support you when and how you need it. Below are the key times, but you're also able to make local arrangements with your teachers for any support you wish after school. If your subject is not listed here, but you believe assessments are still to be completed please do speak to your teacher.

Art -  Thursday after school (T22 for BTEC and T23 for GCSE)

Computer Science - upon request

English - Thursday after school

History - individually with class teachers

Geography - upon request

Mathematics - individually with class teachers

Music - Thursday (week 2) after school

Science - any evening after school (3-4pm on request) - please just speak to your teacher

Range Certificates and Tutor Event

You'll be receiving two grade range certificates, one on 10/05/2021 and one on 28/05/2021. An example of this is below, with a tutor event following on 11/05/2021 to talk about what it shows and support if needed:

As ever if you've any concerns / worries / things to ask please do get in contact with your subject teacher, subject team leader, tutor, house leader or any member of Noadswood staff who will do everything they can to support you.

JCQ

The JCQ have provided an overview of the most important information that students, parents or guardians need to know about how grades will be awarded this summer. This includes a timeline of what is happening and when; how teachers, schools and colleges will determine grades; and when results will be received (click link):

Previous Key Messages

Message from Miss Marshall:

Message from Mr Crowley:

The GCSE awarding for 2021 announcement was made by the government, and they have released the full details in this press release below (click link):

From this release the key information has been summarised below -

• GCSE exams will be replaced by grades determined and awarded by teachers (there will be no algorithm used)
• Teachers can use a range of evidence to determine these grades (mocks / coursework / other work such as in-class tests or essays already completed)
• Exam boards will also be supplying optional question papers which can be used as evidence (these will be taken in-class not in an exams-hall environment)
• Grades need to be submitted by 18/06/2021 to the exam boards
• Results day will take place during the week of 09/08/2021
• There will be an appeals process for the awarded grade

Like we did in 2020, we will be ensuring that the grades determined and awarded are:

• Fair
• Evidenced based
• Without bias

It is important to note that, unlike in 2020, Year 11 will be returning in March and though there has been a great deal of time lost, the return does allow for students to continue their study of the curriculum and have the opportunity to add to the evidence staff already have collected about their potential in a given subject and evidence for a fair GCSE grade. The exams submission deadline is 18/06/2021 which is designed to allow students as much teaching time as possible before teachers make their assessments.

It is likely that we will ask teachers to continue with the curriculum as normal for Year 11 upon return, with teachers collecting evidence and preparing students in the subject as best they can. It is then planned that in May further evidence will be collected, including asking students to sit some forms of assessment which will likely include the released exam board papers (or parts of these papers of which the curriculum has been completed) as well as other appropriate content. This will form a very strong piece of evidence in justifying an awarded grade, which we know will be scrutinised - exam boards will provide detailed guidance before the end of the spring term for support teachers, Team Leaders and Noadswood in making their judgements.

*The intention is that regardless of how much time students might have missed out of Noadswood, they will have questions on a topic they will have studied allowing for a fair judgement of a grade.

Noadswood will, like we always do, take a little time to digest this information and make the absolute best decision for our students. We will release more details in the next week or so about what a return to Noadswood will be like for Year 11 and a more detailed timeline.