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Hi Colleague

Well, didn't September fly by! The nights are drawing in and combined with the cooler temperatures, it's certainly feeling very autumnal.

We're pleased to share with you the joint announcement from Ofqual and the DfE on the outcomes of their consultation about changes to summer 2022 GCSE and A Level exams and assessments. We've summarised the outcomes in our news article.

The DfE has also confirmed the timing of results days next August. 18 August 2022 is results day for A Levels, Cambridge Technicals and other Level 3 qualifications, 25 August for GCSEs, Cambridge Nationals and other Level 2 qualifications. See this JCQ bulletin for more details.

Also in this week’s news: 

  • congratulations to our OCR bursary students heading to Cambridge University
  • a reminder of the autumn 2021 exam entry deadline for GCSEs and Cambridge Nationals 
  • a reminder to submit your unit level teacher assessed grades by 8 October
  • supporting you with baseline assessments – no charge for your first 35 students.

Today marks the start of Black History Month, a time to promote knowledge, understanding and recognition of Black history and achievements. We'll be sharing our Black History Month blog posts with you this month in our weekly roundup, as well as on our social media.

Finally, we hope you have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes

OCR
01223 553998 
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Summer 2022 adaptations
GCSE students sitting an exam

The outcome of the joint DfE/Ofqual consultation on changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A Levels exams in summer 2022 was published yesterday.

Alongside changes to assessments covering adaptations and advance information, the announcements also included the approach to grading of exams and the timing of results days. 

The announcements yesterday covered GCSE, AS and A Level. We're pleased to remind you that we confirmed our 2021/2 adaptations for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals earlier this month.

Ofqual and DfE have also announced a short consultation on contingency plans in the event that exams do not go ahead next summer.  You can find out more about this and how to take part in the consultation in our policy article. The deadline for responses is Wednesday 13 October.

We’ve summarised the package of measures for summer 2022 exams in our latest Subject Information Update.

Summer 2022 adaptations
Submitting unit level teacher assessed grades

The Grade Submission System is now open until 8 October 2021 for you to submit your unit level teacher assessed grades.

For details of how to submit your teacher assessed grades, please see the OCR website and our FAQs.
Person submitting grades on laptop

Determining teacher assessed grades

Your grades should be determined following a similar process to that for qualification level grades – see our step-by-step guidance and FAQs for more details.

Remember, your students are eligible for a unit level teacher assessed grade for any assessments which they would have planned to take in 2020/21 (doing the assessment by 31 August 2021). This includes units you planned to take before assessments were cancelled and units where you had originally planned to take but then decided to reduce the unit assessment.

Grade Submission System
Entry deadline for autumn exam series
Students sitting an exam

Don't forget that Monday 4 October is the autumn 2021 exam entry deadline for GCSEs and Cambridge Nationals.

View the key dates and exam timetables, our results to autumn exams timeline and the qualification fees.
Fantastic fifteen win OCR bursaries for Cambridge University studies

We'd like to congratulate the fifteen West Midlands A Level students who will be studying at the University of Cambridge this year, having won an OCR bursary to support their studies.

Now in its 18th year, our bursary, which arose from our historical association with the West Midlands Examinations board, helps students in the West Midlands to make the most of their studies at the University of Cambridge.
Congratulations bursary winners

Read news story
Baseline assessments – no charge for first 35 students!
Students in class

After a challenging year for everyone, it's more vital than ever to understand and track students' core skills and capabilities.

Cambridge CEM and OCR, both part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge, would like to offer support for schools in the UK to use our baseline assessment tools to support educational planning for 2021/22.

Whether students are moving from primary to secondary school or starting GCSEs and A Levels, a smooth transition is essential. Robust data from baseline assessments, at the start of a new term, can quickly help you understand your new cohort, identify potential, set realistic and challenging targets and raise aspirations.

Unlock the power in your data with the CEM baseline assessments:

To get you started there's no charge for your first 35 students!

Register now

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