Examinations January 2021 Announcement Made 24th Nov

Qualifications Wales makes decision on non-examination assessments and January exams
Tuesday 24 Nov 2020

Following the Minister for Education’s policy decision to cancel GCSEs, AS and A levels exams in summer 2021 and having listened to early proposals from the Design and Delivery Advisory Group, Qualifications Wales has made the following two decisions:

1. Non examination assessments (NEA) will continue to be included in GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020-2021.
2. January exam series – Unit assessments for GCSE Welsh Literature, English Literature and ICT will be cancelled . Other planned assessments will go ahead, as outlined in the table below.

Cancelled GCSEs
English Literature Unit 1
Welsh Literature Unit 1
ICT Unit 1 & 3

Taking place
New HSC
Level 2 Understanding Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development Unit 1: Promoting health and well-being throughout the life stages
Level 2 Unit 1: Promoting health and well-being throughout the life stages
Level 3 Principles and theories that influence children’s care, play, learning
and development in the 21st century in Wales
Level 3 Unit 2: Factors affecting individuals’ growth and development across the lifespan and how this impacts on outcomes, care and support needs

Legacy GCSEs
Home Economics Child Development Unit 1 (resit only includes cash-in)
Health & Social Care Unit 2 (resit only includes cash-in)
Health & Social Care Unit 3 (resit only includes cash-in)
Skills Challenge Certificate

Philip Blaker, Chief Executive of Qualifications Wales, said: ’’We know that learners and teachers want to hear about these decisions as quickly as possible. So, having listened to the views expressed in the Design and Delivery Advisory Group we have made these early decisions now. Our priority remains fairness to learners past present and future.’’

The Design and Delivery Advisory Group, who are advising the Minister for Education on the policy for Summer 2021 exams, are looking in detail at the assessment model for Summer 2021. Qualifications Wales sit as observers of this group, alongside WJEC, and provide advice and guidance.

As the independent regulator of qualifications in Wales, our statutory role is to protect learners and build public confidence.