Arrangements for assessment and grading for summer 2020
Ofqual launches consultation on exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading in 2020
Ofqual has set out its proposals for the assessment and grading of vocational, technical and other general qualifications not covered by the approach already set out for awarding GCSEs, A Levels and AS Levels in summer 2020. They are now seeking views on these proposals with a consultation that closes at 11.45pm on 8 May 2020.
Read more and respond to the consultation here
Guidance on the awarding of GCSEs, A Levels and AS Levels in 2020
Following the decision by government to cancel all GCSE, A Level and AS Level exams this summer due to Covid-19, Ofqual has published further information explaining how students will now be assessed and awarded.
A guidance document for teachers, students, parents and carers is available, as well as information for Heads of Department and teachers on the submission of Centre assessment grades and a letter to students explaining how grades will be calculated and when they can expect to receive their results.
The guidance confirms that results will be released on the published results days as originally planned. These are 13 August for A level and 20 August for GCSE.
View the guidance on the Gov.uk website here.
Changes to data collections and services this academic or financial year
The Department for Education has published a list of all data collections and services which will be cancelled or paused for this academic or financial year, to help reduce the burden on schools and councils amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Some data collections and services will continue and decisions on some have been deferred until later in the year.
The full list is available here.
Schools' reassuring messages to pupils during lockdown
We have been truly inspired seeing how schools, pupils and families in Warwickshire have adapted to the unusual circumstances they have found themselves in during the coronavirus crisis. No one is going to pretend that it hasn't been challenging and difficult, in different ways for different people, but seeing the sense of humour and spirit which has shone through from across the Warwickshire family of schools has been fantastic.
In the past weeks, seeing your colourful and striking rainbow creations to show support for our key workers has really brightened our days and made us smile, as well as seeing all of the creative activities that have been going on at home and the challenges you've all been setting yourselves.
Scrolling through our Twitter feed we have seen some wonderful examples of the ways that schools are reaching out to those pupils who are stuck at home, offering messages of reassurance and encouragement to keep spirits high and people smiling.
We thought we'd take the opportunity to share some of these in Heads Up and to say a big 'thank you' to all of you for everything you are doing to keep our children and young people safe and well during this challenging time.
If you would like to be featured in a future edition of Heads Up, please email us at headsup@warwickshire.gov.uk
Also, don't forget to follow @wcc_schools on twitter and tag us in your videos and messages so we can share them far and wide!
A special shout out to the staff and pupils at Stockingford Academy who made it onto the BBC's Big Night In special version of 'Show me the way to Amarillo' with Peter Kay last week (they are the third group in from the start)! Here's the full video for anyone who missed it:
St Matthew's Bloxham C of E Primary School put together this video montage of staff holding up rainbow-inspired pictures to send a message to all of its pupils. Watch on Twitter here.
A picture can say a thousand words! Wellesbourne C of E Primary School encourage pupils to 'stay home for the people you love, keep washing your hands, let's flatten the curve and see the biggest rainbow' .
Reminding their pupils that they are still very much a part of the 'SAB' family, St Andrew's Benn C of E Primary School sent this reassuring message on Twitter - watch it here.
The staff at Whitestone Infant School have been busy learning British Sign Language to put together this wonderful video to the Bruno Mars song 'You can count on me'.
Educaterers staff praised for keeping school meals going during Covid-19 pandemic
Educaterers employees have been working in around 125 schools a day across the region, at any one time, to serve up nutritious meals to those children that have been attending school and the school staff supporting and caring for them.
The school caterers provided their services to around 60 schools that remained open over the Easter holidays, with staff working on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Schools that have been receiving Educaterers meals during the difficult circumstances resulting from the Covid-19 lockdown have been quick to praise the service.
Campion School in Leamington Spa has said the Educaterers team have been “fantastic… during these exceptional times”, with the school commenting that “our key worker pupils (and a number of essential staff to look after them) are being well fed and looked after by the team on site.”
Dordon and Wood End Primary Schools have also thanked Educaterers for everything they have done for their children, commenting that “it has been a difficult situation that has been made easier through your support an openness.”
Educaterers normally serve up over 120,000 nutritious tasty meals a week in over 200 schools and colleges in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Birmingham and Oxfordshire.
They are currently posting a recipe a day on social media from their Educaterers Recipe Book, via the Warwickshire County Council Twitter and Facebook page, hashtag #Educaterers, so that parents and carers of children not in school can recreate school meals at home.
For more information on Educaterers, visit www.educaterers.co.uk.
Weekly activities from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service are running activities each week for children to take part in on both Facebook and Twitter. Last week was salt dough shapes and this week they've set the challenge for anyone who would like to have a go at rock painting.
They would love to see painted rocks that feature a fire safety message, for example 'don't play with matches' or 'get out, stay out and call 999'.
Why not make this an activity for your pupils to do, either at school or at home, and then share pictures of the finished rocks with us on Facebook and Twitter @warksfirerescue, the firefighters would love to see them!
