Weir thanks schools for stepping up to the challenge

Education Minister Peter Weir has thanked schools for their efforts in submitting examinations data for this summer’s alternative awarding system.

This follows the Minister’s decision in March that GCSE, AS and A level qualifications will be awarded using a combination of teacher professional judgement, drawing on the wealth of evidence held in schools, and statistical modelling to ensure the grades awarded are robust and accurate.

The Minister said: “School leaders and teachers have made an incredible effort to meet the challenge of responding to an alternative awarding system in such a short space of time.  I understand that the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) is already working through the data and ensuring that all candidates, including private candidates, will have fair grades when it comes to issuing results in August. However, what schools have delivered in a matter of weeks to make this possible is remarkable.

“I fully appreciate the additional pressure this has placed on teachers, when they are already having to adapt to teaching their pupils via remote learning, as well as supporting vulnerable children and key workers’ children.

“I want to thank teachers for the way they have all stepped up to this challenge and engaged with the process. They demonstrated their professionalism, dedication and commitment to ensuring that, even in these unprecedented times, their pupils’ hard work is reflected in a way that will enable them to progress to the next stage of their lives in the autumn.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The teacher professional judgement component of the awarding arrangements comprises centre assessed grades (using the wealth of evidence held within the school, including course work, home work, class work, mock exams and prior attainment on other modules in the previous year), and rank orders of candidates within the school for each qualification. Centre assessed grades and rank orders were to be provide by schools to CCEA by 5 June (for AS and A levels) and 12 June for GCSEs.
2. Results are due to be issued to candidates on 13 August for AS and A levels and 20 August for GCSEs.
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