COVID: Calls For GCSE Exams To Be Scrapped In Favour Of Assessments

Education Minister Kirsty Williams asked for recommendations from Qualifications Wales and an independent review which will feed into the final plan for 2021.

The conclusions are slightly different.

Qualifications Wales recommend replacing scheduled exams for GCSEs with ongoing assessment and smaller timetabled tests. They also want more ongoing assessments for A-Levels, but to keep a final exam so Welsh A-Levels are on a par with those of the rest of the UK.

The independent review concludes that exams should be abandoned across the board during the pandemic.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: " I know how important an issue next year’s exams are for many learners and their families.

"At a press conference last week I said that I would soon make a decision on what qualifications in Wales would look like next year and that I would announce that decision on Tuesday, November 10.

"The reason for waiting until then is so that all learners will be back in school following the fire-break with access to, and support from, their teachers.

"I also said that I was awaiting important information and advice relating to qualifications before making any decisions.

"This included the interim recommendations of an independent review I commissioned and further advice from Qualifications Wales with a specific focus on deliverability and equality in any approach.

"Today, I am pleased to confirm I have received both pieces of advice and they are publicly available on the links below.

"I would like to thank both Qualifications Wales and the review panel chaired by Louise Casella, Director of the Open University in Wales, for their thorough work and preparing these important documents for consideration.

"I have always said that it is vital that we hear from learners who took qualifications this year, and those due to take qualifications next year, to learn from their experiences before reaching a final decision.

"The independent review’s recent consultation was open to learners, I look forward to reading what they have had to say and am pleased that this information will now help inform our final decision on next year’s exams.

"I will now consider these pieces of advice before discussing next week with young people and the workforce before announcing our decision on Tuesday, November 10."

Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Education, Siân Gwenllian MS said: “Plaid Cymru has repeatedly made the case to replace 2021 exams with centre assessment grades. It is welcomed that the Independent Review Panel also comes to this conclusion and the Minister must heed this advice.

“Theirs is a proposal that places the wellbeing of the learner at the heart of the system and recognises the devastating impact of the pandemic on this cohort.

“With the recommendations from Qualifications Wales being published on the same day, the Education Minister now has two pieces of advice in front of her that differ in one very important aspect: Qualifications Wales recommends replacing timetabled exams with ‘external unit assessments.’ Surely this is exams by any other name?

“So many learners have faced prolonged absences from school due to self-isolation, nervousness in attending school in areas of high prevalence, or being ill themselves. A ‘one size fits all’ exam approach is not what this cohort needs right now.

“The Independent Review Panel raises important questions about the fairness of the current exam based approach, and the need for a better ‘whole programme’ approach to oversight and delivery. It is my belief that the Education Minister should accept all the recommendations from the Independent Review Panel, and reject those from Qualifications Wales.”

Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Minister, Suzy Davies MS, has welcomed the review into the 2021 exam season in Wales by Qualifications Wales and is calling on the Welsh Government Education Minister to ensure that there is confidence in the system for exams to go ahead next year.

“It really isn’t helpful that these two reviews solve nothing, with both fundamentally disagreeing with each other. I hope that the Education Minister shows some leadership on this issue, unlike earlier in the year when she pushed decisions onto teachers and school leaders instead of leading from the front.

“Qualifications Wales are clear that no national moderation system can be tested and be ready in time to bring confidence to centre-assessed grades. As they and the WJEC would be responsible for creating and implementing such a system, if they say it can’t be done, then we need to listen. The last thing we need is another system which everyone thinks is fair but turns out to be anything but.

“However, while I’m pleased to see that exams still feature strongly in the Qualifications Wales findings, I’m sure school leaders, parents and pupils will want to know which of the various combinations, that Qualifications Wales suggest, will command the greatest public confidence. They don’t have time for any cul-de-sacs when it comes to planning the way ahead.

“I look forward to hearing the Minister's conclusions but reiterate my call to her that she needs to give decisive leadership on this issue. We can’t let another cohort of young people face the anxiety about their futures that students this year went through.”