Dear Year 11 students,
As I listened to the Prime Minister’s announcement last night, I felt an overwhelming feeling of disappointment that you would not have the opportunity to demonstrate what you have learnt during your time at Little Lever in your forthcoming GCSE exams. I was excited about the grades you would achieve this year. I am sure you will have felt the same!
However, in times of trouble and desperation we must demonstrate the qualities that we try to instil in all our young people at Little Lever; Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative and Communication are qualities we develop in everyone because we know success in life is not only driven by academic performance but by the content of our character.
While there may be disappointment at the announcements yesterday we must still be determined, have hope and show resilience… there is still a way forward for everyone, there is still an opportunity to succeed and there is still an opportunity to achieve things you never thought you could and we must not waste that opportunity!
It is likely the government will introduce Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs) to replace GCSE exams (although this has not yet been confirmed). It is important to remember that a CAG is still a GCSE grade and many years from now when employers and Universities ask to see GCSE grades it will make no difference whether this grade came from a CAG or a GCSE exam, the GCSE grade will be the same.
I want you to know we will do everything we can to ensure that you leave Little Lever with the best GCSE grade you can. In order to do this, we will prepare you as if we were going to sit the exam. We will do everything we would normally do and more to help you achieve things you never thought you could.
We will continue with a second mock exam when we return to school at some point. We will continue to use STEP assessments remotely and when we return for face to face teaching. We will deliver LIVE sessions to you each day following your timetable and our Remote Learning expectations. We will run Lesson 7, Lesson 0, All Inclusives and pre-mock exam masterclasses either remotely or face to face. We will not let the unfortunate circumstances that have happened affect your future.
I wanted to let you know how teachers will determine a Centre Assessed Grade (CAG). We will take into account the following:
- Effort in your classwork so far this year and when we return
- Effort in your Remote Learning
- Attendance at school (when face to face) (medical reasons are discounted)
- Attendance to your Remote lessons (we will ensure every student has ICT equipment and access)
- Effort and Progress in your STEP Assessments
- Effort and Progress from Mock Exam 1 to Mock Exam 2
Most of the things we take into account are based on two simple things:
- Effort
- Attendance
If you all put in maximum effort in your LIVE sessions and you all log in and attend your LIVE sessions you are giving yourself the best chance of success.
We believe in every single one of you! Great things can be achieved by any human being on the planet and despite the difficulties and obstacles that can be thrown in people’s way the most successful people find a way to jump over them, move around them or simply smash through them. There is always a way, you are not alone and we will help and support you every step of the way!
We hope to see you back in school soon but in the meantime take care, stay safe, attend your LIVE sessions and put in maximum effort. Keep going, we believe in you!
Mr Mckeon