Examinations

You will perhaps already have seen the information from the Department for Education regarding next summer's examinations.

We await clarity on the situation, as there are still many areas where schools and students need answers, but this week the Department for Education announced that the new measures involve:

• "more generous grading than usual, in line with national outcomes from 2020, so students this year are not disadvantaged;
• students receiving advance notice of some topic areas covered in GCSE, AS and A levels to focus revision;
• exam aids - like formula sheets - provided in some exams giving students more confidence and reducing the amount of information they need to memorise;
• additional exams to give students a second chance to sit a paper if the main exams or assessments are missed due to illness or self-isolation; and
• a new expert group to look at differential learning and monitor the variation in the impact of the pandemic on students across the country."

It is really important that students recognise that the generous grading will apply to all students across the country, not just those at Chilwell, and so it is as important as ever to ensure they continue to work through the curriculum and complete all tasks set by teachers to be as well prepared as possible for next summer.

We expect to receive more information in January which we will share with students and parents.

Free School Meal Vouchers

I am really pleased to inform you that Nottinghamshire County Council will be supporting students in receipt of free school meals with vouchers through the Christmas holiday break. These will be issued by school on 11th December.

I wish you a safe week ahead.