We hope all of our pupils in our Class of 2020 have been able to stay safe and enjoy their summer break in spite of the turbulence around us regarding ‘exam’ results and the COVID-19 restrictions. This has been a challenging time for everyone and is certainly a test of our resilience.

As you will be aware from the recent news following the fallout from last week’s A level results, on Monday 17 August 2020 the government confirmed that all candidates will now receive their centre assessed grades at A Level and GCSE. Following the announcement, we have been authorised to release our centre assessed grades on Thursday 20 August 2020. We understand these have been officially confirmed by the examination boards.

We are very much looking forward to seeing our pupils again and sharing their results with them on Thursday 20 August 2020. As previously planned, unless they have opted to receive them by email, pupils in our ‘Class of 2020’ are invited up to collect their centre assessed grades in their tutor groups at the following times:

As we share their results with them on the front field (weather permitting), it is important that all pupils observe appropriate social distancing to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing. We also politely request that any family or friends who accompany pupils to school should please remain in the car or away from where results are being issued.

While we broadly welcome the decision to award centre assessed grades to this year’s GCSE candidates, it is important that our pupils recognise that these are formal final assessments that have been subject to rigorous internal moderation and close scrutiny.

At Cirencester Deer Park School we followed the guidance we were given by Ofqual and the examination boards meticulously:

• We all worked effectively within given parameters set out by Ofqual;
• We were asked to award centre-assessed grades for each pupil based on what the school believed the pupil would have achieved in each subject had they had the opportunity to sit the summer examinations;
• We implemented a very robust programme to ensure that there was no subject where a single member of staff was responsible for deciding the grade a pupil was most likely to have achieved;
• We carefully considered evidence of pupils’ learning and progress prior to lockdown on Friday 20 March 2020, including any special education needs and access arrangements;
• We carefully scrutinised our pupils’ mock exam results, class work, interim test scores, assessed pieces of work and controlled assessments, where applicable;
• We worked collaboratively within and across teams to ensure the thorough moderation of all decisions made and to confirm our centre assessed grades in each subject.

Therefore, we believe that the centre assessed grades that we submitted to the exam boards were as fair and accurate as possible. 

We appreciate that there will still be an element of anticipation and excitement on Thursday 20 August and rightly so; receiving results is an important milestone in any pupils’ educational journey and marks the end of their time with us. However, while we recognise there will be cause for celebration for many of our pupils, some will need time for reflection. Members of the school’s leadership team will be on hand to provide support and guidance.

Owing to the late change, we are currently awaiting further guidance on what happens next. Some Sixth Form providers have indicated they will accept the school’s centre assessed grades. There may be an opportunity to appeal and candidates may still be able to sit an exam in the Autumn if they wish to improve on their centre assessed grades. We will pass on any advice and guidance as soon as we receive it.