Open in a web browser here.
OCR_NEW_CMYK_FLAT_Jan2019
Group of students

Hi Colleague

We hope you've had a good week. Half term is on the horizon; we hope you're looking forward to a well-deserved break.

In this week's roundup:

  • advance information to support students revising for many GCSE, AS and A Level exams this summer will be available via a 'finder' on our website on Monday 7 February. To help with your questions, we'll be running free subject-specific Q&A webinars later this month – read on for how to book your place
  • spotlight on...the Drama and Performing Arts Subject Advisor team supporting you
  • February is LGBT+ History Month. In this Cambridge University Press & Assessment article, read about the LGBTQIA+ topics we've introduced to our history qualifications, and how we're making our exam processes more inclusive and diverse
  • maths teachers: are you interested in running your GCSE (9–1) Maths mocks online? Methodmaths has created a digital mock service for OCR teachers
  • some handy reminders:

Next week is Children's Mental Health Week, which is a timely reminder of the importance of children and young people’s mental health. As well as promoting the official campaign, we'll be using social media to share some of our support resources with students, including our webpage on managing student stress, and our infographics on how to manage your time and procrastination: how to beat it.

If you have any questions or need support at any time, remember to check out our dedicated supporting you pages, our range of FAQs, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you need more advice.

Best wishes

OCR
01223 553998 | support@ocr.org.uk | Twitter | View back issues of the weekly roundup
OCR-Newsletter-Box-shaddow
Advance information for summer 2022 exams available on www.ocr.org.uk from Monday 7 February
Exams in the classroom

Advance information will be provided to support students revising for summer 2022 exams in the majority of AS, A Level, and GCSE subjects, as well as FSMQ and Core Maths. We'll provide advance information via a 'finder' that can be accessed from the home page of our website and from your qualification pages. We'll also email you on Monday with the links you need.

What to expect from advance information

We know it's been a challenging time for everyone in schools and colleges. With exams going ahead this summer, be assured we're here to support you and your students every step of the way. Here's what to expect from advance information, which is one of the measures to support teachers and students preparing for exams in summer 2022. Read our overview of measures, which includes optionality, exam aids, NEA and fieldwork adaptations, grading, as well as advance information, here.

Have you booked your place on our live Q&A webinars?

To support you with advance information, we're offering free subject-specific Q&A webinars from 14–24 February. These will include an overview of your subject's advance information and you'll be able to have your questions answered by your Subject Advisor. Don't worry if you can't join the live webinars; we'll make the recordings available for you to watch on-demand. We'll also be publishing a series of subject-specific blogs based on your questions on our website after the webinars.

To book your place, search our professional development webpage by subject (the webinars are called 'Advance information for summer 2022 Q&A webinar').

Book your place
Interested in running your GCSE (9–1) Maths mocks online?

Methodmaths has created a digital mock service for OCR GCSE (9–1) Maths teachers. The mock service is available to purchase online and includes digital versions of our November 2021 GCSE (9–1) Maths papers. With sophisticated auto marking enabling students to receive instant feedback following their assessment, this service can save you time and give your students access to personalised support.
Methodmaths logo

Sign up now for free access to familiarisation tests and more information via the Methodmaths website.

Sign up
Spotlight on...Drama and Performing Arts
Music teacher and student

Each week, we'll be introducing you to members of our Subject Advisor team, who are there to help you deliver and assess our qualifications.

This week, meet Marie Bessant, our Drama and Performing Arts Subject Advisor. 

Marie Bessant

Marie Bessant"I joined OCR in July 2014. As one of OCR's Lead Subject Advisors, I'm also the Performing Arts specialist. I led the development of the new Music GCSEs and A Levels, and now oversee the management, development and support of Music and Drama GCSE and A Level, and the Cambridge Technical Performing Arts qualifications.

"I've ten years of experience teaching Music and the Performing Arts at GCSE, A Level and Level 2–4 vocational qualifications, including as a Head of Department at secondary schools and FE colleges.

"I'm an organist and pianist with a love for rock music, shopping, food and reading (anything from Austen to Atwood, and particularly anything fantasy and sci-fi). I have a particular love for Kris Kristofferson!"

✉️ To get in touch with Marie, email drama@ocr.org.uk or music@ocr.org.uk and follow us on Twitter.

Supporting our teachers

Our Subject Advisors offer a personal and specific point of contact for new and existing teachers to discuss qualification delivery and assessment queries or the support you'd like to receive in the future. We regularly share subject-specific blogs, newsletters, videos, guides and more. To find out how we're supporting you, visit our dedicated webpage.

To find any subject-specific advisor, or if you're considering switching to OCR and would like to know more about the support and guidance we can offer, please contact us.

Supporting you

This email was sent to you by OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations) because you consented to us online or at one of our events, or with one of our carefully selected partners to receive OCR email communications.

If you no longer wish to receive OCR Updates from us and would like to remove your details from our list please unsubscribe from all future emails or alternatively you can update your email preferences here. 

OCR is a not for profit organisation and a company limited by guarantee registered in England, No. 3484466 Registered Office: The Triangle Building Shaftesbury Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 8EA United Kingdom