23rd March 2020 

I am acutely aware that the uncertainty surrounding the current grading of qualifications is still very unsettling. Indeed, many of you have contacted us for further information and guidance as to how your child will be awarded their GCSE/A Level grades now that it has been confirmed that the summer exam season for Year 11 and Year 13 students has been cancelled. 

The Department for Education (DfE) are currently working with Ofqual (the independent qualifications regulator) to ensure that students are awarded a fair grade, one which does not disadvantage any particular group of students. As the situation stands currently, we do not have specific information on how grades will be awarded nor what instructions will be provided to schools for this to happen. This information is currently being worked through at government level and we will of course communicate this with you as and when it becomes available. 

I understand the huge impact all of this has had on these two year groups and that you will have vast concerns and anxieties about what this means for a range of applications for colleges, sixth forms, universities and apprenticeship. However, I would ask that you please do not make contact with teachers or heads of subject departments asking for further information or guidance on this, or to make the case for a particular grade for your child. Instead, please be assured that teachers and heads of departments will act with utter professionalism and will follow the guidelines for submitting grades as will be instructed by the DfE. 

To clarify the position, we are expecting the DfE to release specific guidance to schools soon, so that we can support all of our young people in accessing the vital next stages of their education.

It is important at this time that schools are able to focus on ensuring students are safe and have support with, and access to, the online resources we are preparing. I absolutely appreciate the frustration, but we do not have any information other than what is provided in the link above. We will ensure that any updates provided by the DfE are communicated to you as soon as we receive them. 

Mr House, Headteacher