Ofqual is consulting on arrangements for awarding grades for GCSE, AS and A levels this summer and on awarding arrangements for a range of vocational and technical qualifications. It is a joint consultation with the Department for Education.
As usual BATOD will be responding. Working with colleagues from RNIB and NDCS we are proposing to cover the following points in our responses:
- Access arrangements must be put in place for any short exam papers where required including provision of extra time and language modified papers
- Centres must consider whether evidence used for grading were from situations that were fully accessible. If situations were not fully accessible then this must be noted and factored into grading decisions
- Centres are strongly recommended to seek advice from qualified Teachers of the Deaf, or another specialist supporting the learner on the evidence used for grading
- Centres must record the specialist advice received for internal and external quality assurance purposes
- JCQ’s guidance on access arrangements is followed for any classroom tests or mock exams that are used for grading
- Learners are permitted to appeal if they suspect that they have been disadvantaged by the choice of evidence used for grading
- The above recommendations are promoted to centres by the Department for Education, Ofqual and awarding bodies.
Please let me have any other thoughts you might have for consideration for any BATOD response.
The closing date is next Friday (29th January) so please could you send me any comments by the end of next Wednesday, 27th January. It is a tight deadline.
Many thanks.
Paul
Paul Simpson, co-National Executive Officer
