Centre-determined grades for schools and colleges: examples of approaches
- Part of
Overview
Overview from DDAG of the Hwb section and resources that will be made available.
In summer 2021 the awarding of grades for learners taking GSCE, AS and A level qualifications approved by Qualifications Wales will be determined by schools and colleges based on a range of assessment evidence.
Provided below is a selection of examples and other resource materials showing how different schools and colleges are planning their approach to centre-determined grades.
These examples have been provided by the school and college leaders who are members of the Design and Delivery Advisory Group and they are shared with the intention to support school and college leaders to develop approaches to support the delivery of centre-determined grades this year.
Resources will be updated and more added as schools and colleges implement their approaches to centre-determined grades.
We welcome suggestions, as well as other examples to showcase and these can be sent to us via the Quals2021DDG@gov.wales mailbox.
Design and Delivery Advisory Group webinars
We have hosted a series of webinars for headteachers and college principals lead by members of the Design and Delivery Advisory Group (DDAG), to help explain the approach to centre-determined grades and requirements for schools and colleges, as well as providing a direct opportunity for questions and answers. We will continue to host these webinars at key points in the timeline for centre-determined grades and will publish a schedule of these shortly.
Below are the presentations from these sessions and where available a recording of the webinars. We are currently scheduling further webinars and will provide details of these shortly.
9 March DDAG webinar – update on centre-determined grades
- Presentation pptx 563 Kb This file may not be accessible. If you need a more accessible version of this document please email digital@gov.wales. Please tell us the format you need. If you use assistive technology please tell us what this is
20 January DDAG webinar – announcement of centre-determined grades model
- Presentation pptx 77 Kb This file may not be accessible. If you need a more accessible version of this document please email digital@gov.wales. Please tell us the format you need. If you use assistive technology please tell us what this is
Developing centre assessment plans: exemplars
Here are a range of examples showing how different schools and colleges have approached developing their centre assessment plans to provide a robust, transparent and equitable approach to centre-determined grades. These will be added to over the coming days as more materials are finalised.
Cardinal Newman
Ysgol Coedcae School
Subject assessment plan approach
Draft Policy of Assessment for Summer 2021
The Bishop of Llandaff/Caldicot School Partnership
Example of subject level assessment approach
Ysgol Eirias
Ysgol Penglais
Example of a school’s assessment approach to centre-determined grades
Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones
Ysgol Syr Thomas and the Yns Mon Strategic Secondary Group
Cardiff and Vale College
Communicating with learners, parents and carers
It is important to ensure learners and their parents and carers understand how grades will be awarded this year and that they know the approach that the school or college with be taking in collecting assessment evidence. Some examples of communications materials are provided below and will be added to in the coming days.
The Bishop of Llandaff/Caldicot School Partnership
Parent/student briefing on qualifications
Qualifications webpage
Considering Equalities in the Centre Determined Grade Model
The centre determined grade approach has been developed to ensure that it has equalities considerations at its heart so learners are supported to progress in an equitable and fair way and have confidence in their grades. The resources below are provided to support schools and colleges in considering their equalities duties when delivering centre-determined grades.
Guidance from the Equality and Human Right Commission on the Public Sector Equalities Duty
Further examples
We are currently preparing a range of other examples to help support schools and colleges in their approach to centre-determined grades – this includes examples of subject assessment plans, parent/student briefings, considering equalities, approach to timetabling assessments. As such we will be regularly updating the material that is published in this section.
Further support and resources
Provided below is a summary of and links to other resources that are available to support schools and colleges in delivering centre-determined grades.
Qualifications Wales guidance on centre-determined grades
https://www.qualificationswales.org/english/awarding-2021/guidance-documents/
WJEC secure site
Detailed professional learning and resources have been developed by WJEC, with support from DDAG members, to help with questions and queries about how to operationalise the centre-determined grade guidance. This information and a range of support materials can be accessed via the WJEC’s secure website – including the grading guidance which has just been published.