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Curriculum, assessment and qualifications

 
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NAHT is working to ensure that the curriculum supports the learning, progress and success of all pupils. NAHT supports the principle that a broad and balanced curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

NAHT is campaigning to: 

Support schools to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils

  • Challenge the government policy, including EBacc, which may narrow the curriculum
  • Enable and support schools to successfully deliver statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education
  • Lobby for improvements to government policy which supports schools to deliver inclusive education and fulfil their responsibilities under the public sector equality duty
  • Support schools to deliver effective careers education for all pupils
  • Support schools to deliver high-quality Religious Education to all pupils
  • Provide guidance, materials and information to support schools in educating pupils about environmental issues.

Ensure a valid and proportionate approach to statutory assessment in primary schools

  • Lobby the government to reconsider the introduction of the multiplication tables check
  • Lobby the government to ensure changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage and Early Learning Goals are appropriate and relevant for the early years sector
  • Influence the development and implementation of the reception baseline assessment
  • Support members to implement the new statutory assessment for pupils with SEND
  • Identify and challenge the STA over any impact on members of the contract change to deliver statutory assessment in the primary phase
  • Engage with the STA to influence changes and improvements to statutory assessment including moderation and maladministration
  • Campaign for KS2 SPAG to be made non-statutory and oppose any additional statutory testing in the primary phase
 

Ensure the KS4 and KS5 qualification framework and examination system is fit for purpose

  • Press the government, Ofqual and exam boards to ensure that reformed qualifications, both academic and vocational, meet the needs of all pupils and schools
  • Explore the issue of grade reliability, identifying solutions and improvements which are supported by members and pressing the government and Ofqual for appropriate action
  • Inform members of the latest developments in secondary assessment through engagement with Ofqual, JCQ and awarding organisations. 

Awarding qualifications in summer 2021: guidance and support materials

The following documents can be downloaded from the JCQ’s page containing guidance to support the awarding of general qualifications this summer

Guidance:

  • JCQ Guidance on the Determination of Grades for A AS Levels and GCSEs Summer 2021
  • JCQ Guidance for Students and Parents on Summer 2021
  • Summer 2021 Centre Policy Summary Online Form
  • A Guide to the Submission of Centre Policy
  • JCQ Summer 2021 Documents Change Log.
     

Templates:

  • Summer 2021 JCQ Guidance - Centre policy
  • Summer 2021 JCQ Guidance - Assessment Record template
  • Summer 2021 JCQ Guidance - Head of Department checklist.


Grading supporting documentation:

  • Summer 2021 Grade Descriptors A-AS Levels
  • Summer 2021 Grade Descriptors GCSE
  • Summer 2021 JCQ Guidance – Worked Examples.


Further support materials:

  • Summer 2021 Private Candidates - FAQs
  • JCQ Interim Guidance for Private Candidate Centres
  • Retention of evidence - Summer 2021.


Ofqual information

Ofqual has also published some key documents related to awarding general qualifications:

 

Awarding of vocational and technical qualifications

JCQ members have been working to ensure that arrangements put in place for awarding vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) this summer are fair and transparent and do not advantage or disadvantage vocational learners against their peers taking similar qualifications whether general or vocational.

Support materials to help with the administration of VTQs summer 2021 assessments can be found here

Ofqual has also published information regarding the awarding of VTQs this summer:

 

First published 19 April 2021
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