Relief as DfE announces measures for 2021 exams and tests and Ofsted

4th December 2020

After months of uncertainty the Department for Education has finally released measures for 2021 exams in England, providing direction for staff and students. The measures include adjustments for exams, postponement of Ofsted inspections and cancellation of KS1 SATs.

What are your views on the announcement? Please complete our short survey to let us know.

Primary Measures

Primary staff will be relieved that the additional burden of KS1 SATs has been removed. However, many are questioning the purpose of progressing with KS2 SATs. Previously Schools Minister Nick Gibb has acknowledged that SATs are an accountability measure, not for tracking student progress. If this is the case, there is little purpose to KS2 SATs this year when the data they provide will not be used externally and is not meaningful for benchmarking.

The timetable of KS2 tests and phonics screening check has been extended by a week, until 26 May and 25 June, respectively. This does at least allow schools some flexibility in administering tests.

Secondary Measures

GCSE and A Level exams will still go ahead, despite moves from devolved nations to move to Centre Assessments. The DfE has promised more generous grading in line with 2020 grades so that students would not be disadvantaged by higher grades from the use of CAGs last year. In terms of exam adjustments the DfE has announced advance notice of some topic areas, to aid revision, and exam aids – like formula sheets – provided in some exams. There is a concern here about possible disparities across subjects, if some subjects will have these measures and not others.

Equally, the government has failed to address a core issue of fairness, with some students and schools having faced significantly more disruption from Covid than others. A lack of transparency in absence data means that regional patterns are difficult to identify, but as the North East has been significantly affected by Covid, with harsher measures, it seems schools in the region have faced increased disruption. In some cases North East schools have reported certain bubbles being out of school for as many as eight weeks this term. Previously, Schools North East called for a hybrid form of exams and continuous assessment to allow for those who have missed significant amounts of in school teaching to still receive fair grades through some teacher assessment, and bring England more in line with devolved nations.

In terms of contingencies, the DfE has announced that additional exams will be put in place to give students isolating a chance to sit missed exams. However, no detail has been provided and it is unclear when these would take place and whether it would be available across all subjects.

Accountability

It is welcome that schools performance tables are being suspended, taking the burden off staff in a year which should be focused on recovery and supporting students. It is also positive that Ofsted Inspections have been postponed until the summer, however, it would support schools further if this was until September, given the continued disruption schools are likely to face throughout the year. It is also unclear how Inspections will go ahead given that the new Inspection Framework focuses on curriculum and schools are having to modify this in order to support ‘catch up’ and recovery. It is also unclear whether data from SATs and exams will be used by Ofsted, and it is crucial that this does not happen in a year where they will not provide meaningful measures of progress.

A return to normal?

While the measures do offer staff a reprieve as they continue their emergency response to the developing pandemic situation, the decisions to go ahead with KS2 SATs and exams indicates a possible attempt to return to ‘normal’ as quickly as possible. The idea that schools will have returned to normal by summer is a concern, as many are anticipating that recovery will take far longer, continued Covid disruption is expected and the effects on staff wellbeing are likely to continue.

The impact of a vaccine on schools should not be overestimated as currently school staff have not been prioritised for a vaccine. This means that schools may not feel the benefit of a vaccination programme and could be subject to continued disruption. Schools North East has previously written to Gavin Williamson, Education Secretary, asking the DfE to prioritise school staff for vaccination and testing.

Your views

We would like to know how North East school staff feel about the measures announced. Please complete our short survey to share your views.