What you need to know:

● Teacher assessments can include a range of evidence, not just mock exams. Teachers can also utilise course work, in class essays or previous test results. This means students need to do their best at every piece of work they are set for the rest of the year. The teacher can only give them a certain grade if they have the evidence to prove the student has met the grade requirements.

● It is important to mention that students will only be assessed on the work they have completed. Around the country, different schools have completed different modules – this is why flexibility in teacher assessment is so important. What one school may have taught, another school may not have.

● Exam boards will provide questions however, teachers do not have to use them. They are being provided as a guide, some schools will want to utilise them whereas others will assess based on their own set work.

● Teachers cannot tell their students the grades they have been given before results day. So, if you were considering a small bribe or call to a teacher, the answer is “no”, they cannot tell you the grade!

● Teachers have until 18th June to submit their student’s grades. Will this mean an early finish to the year for students? This hasn’t been confirmed but if we were to take a guess, we would say it would be at the school’s discretion.

● Grades may be available earlier than usual. It was originally announced that grades would be available from July, this has now been pushed back to 12th August, still a week earlier than usual. This is, of course, subject to change.

● If a student wants to appeal their grade, they need to go to the school first. If required, it will then be escalated to the exam board. Students may also be offered to sit an exam in the Autumn term of 2021 if they would like to improve their grade, however, this has not been formally announced yet.