Northampton schools welcome government's extra measures to make next summer's exams fairer

Two Northampton schools have welcomed extra measures from the government designed to make next summer's exams as fair as possible.

Marking will be more generous, students will be told some topic areas and every pupil will get a score even if they miss a test due to self-isolation or illness, the Department for Education announced today (Thursday, December 3).

Northampton High School headmistress Caroline Petryszak said: “We welcome all of these exceptional measures and the timely way in which they have been announced.

"In particular, we feel that the advance notice of some topic areas and a reduction in the amount of rote learning will allow our students to focus their revision and therefore reduce stress.”

The new measures include more generous grading than usual, in line with national outcomes from 2020, so students this year are not disadvantaged.

Pupils will also receive advance notice of some topic areas covered in GCSE, AS and A-levels to focus revision.

Exam aids - like formula sheets - will be provided in some tests to give students more confidence and reduce the amount of information they need to memorise.

Plus additional exams will be organised to give pupils a second chance to sit a paper if the main exams or assessments are missed due to illness or if they have to self-isolate because of Covid-19.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said 'exams are the best way of giving young people the opportunity to show what they can do' so they must go ahead but 'exceptional steps' are needed to make them fair during the pandemic.

A Moulton College spokesperson said: "Moulton College has ensured that no student has been disadvantaged by continuing with a full programme of face to face learning in a very safe and secure environment.

"Our high retention and attendance levels are testaments to the fact that you cannot beat face-to-face learning. Students want and need to be in full-time education.

"We do understand however that many students nationally have unfortunately been disadvantaged due to lost learning time.

"We are therefore very supportive of some measures to enable all students to fulfil their ambitions and potential, but there needs to be parity.

"Some geographical areas and educational intuitions have been hugely affected by the pandemic."

Kingswood Secondary Academ principal Michelle Newman added: “We welcome the government’s announcement regarding exams for 2021.

"This provides much-needed clarity which will enable us to plan the remainder of this academic year accordingly.

"Our whole team at Kingswood Secondary Academy will continue to support our pupils with their learning as they prepare for exams and the next stages in their lives.”