Dear Yr11, 12 & 13
As you know the government issued guidance a few weeks back about how GCSE and A level results were going to be awarded this year. At the time they failed to mention what was going to happen with BTEC courses which are mainly coursework based. They have now issued information and I have summarised it below:
Yr11 and Yr13
How will vocational qualifications be awarded?
Some qualifications are usually taken alongside or instead of GCSEs, AS and A levels, and are principally used for progression to further or higher education. This group includes, for example, many BTEC courses. We consider that, as far as possible, such qualifications should be treated in the same way as GCSEs, AS and A levels, with learners receiving a calculated result. Calculated results will draw appropriately on a range of evidence, depending on the structure of the qualification. They may be based in part on teacher, trainer or tutor judgements of what result each learner would most likely have achieved had they been able to complete their assessments in summer 2020. Any centre assessment result will be based on a range of evidence held by the school, college or training provider.
Yr12 BTEC/WBQ
There has been no further information about Yr12 so you must continue to follow your teachers on Microsoft Teams where work is still being set for BTEC and the WBQ. As soon as we get any further details we will let you know.
Yr12 progression to A2:
If you are studying a BTEC course or the WBQ then as explained, for now, you need to continue working on the Yr12 elements. However over the coming weeks, for those of you studying any AS courses, staff will want to move onto the A2 elements of the course, some may already have done this. Please make sure that you are engaging with the work so that you are up to speed when we return. If you are doing four courses, then I want you to start thinking about the subject you may drop, as you go into Yr13. My advice is to continue with the three courses you are best at. I will email you again shortly to discuss how we might do this. All students should continue with all courses for now.
Yr11 progression to AS/BTEC:
I am sending all staff the names of students who have applied to study their courses in the 6th form from September. Yr11 students should continue to monitor teams over the coming weeks as staff will start to get in touch regarding work that can be done in preparation to start your AS courses next year. Please make sure you engage with this. If you haven’t applied to come to our 6th form but want to engage with your teachers through teams in the subjects you intend to study then please by all means access the work. If you haven’t applied to come to us but now want to, then please just email me and I will be in touch.
Yr12/13 GCSE resits:
Any GCSE resit grades will be calculated in the same way as any other GCSE grade awarded this year.
These are unprecedented times and I know that you have all worked extremely hard this year.
Keep safe.
Mr G Vernon
Deputy Headteacher