This information is provided to explain the centre-specific impact on current Year 13 students of the Lockdown and school closures in March-August 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is intended to complement individual student UCAS references as per the guidance issued by UCAS.
Loss of teaching time and alternative provision
- Remote, non-live teaching started straight away with students accessing Google classroom and narrated PowerPoints. Provision varied between subjects and students.
- Live online teaching began after Easter for all subjects– all students received some online teaching in their A Level subjects by the end of the summer term, with the amount varying significantly from subject to subject.
- All students in year12, who were able to, returned to school from June 15th where they had one or two 2-hour lessons in some of their A Level subjects. Provision varied between subjects and students.
- Many students were able to continue their work in all of their subjects and keep up to date with their A Level curricula – but some were unable to do so for a variety of reasons. Circumstances specific to students are noted in their UCAS references.
Disruption to university application process
- There has been no disruption to the university application process for current Year 13 students; Higher Education information sessions were provided for students prior to the school closure and students remained in touch and received support in completing personal statements throughout lockdown.
Impact on the information used to determine predicted grades
- Formal internal assessments did not take place at the end of Year 12 as they would usually.
- Predicted grades have been calculated taking into account internal assessments throughout last academic year, including work completed online and in person where applicable during the school closure period.
Work experience and Personal Development
- Work experience was due to take place the week after lockdown started, therefore, work experience was not completed by the year group as a whole. Certain students have been lucky to gain elements of work experience which is detailed in students’ individual references.
- Guidance from tutors has been limited and provision has varied.
- The tutorial programme, where students gain weekly support on applications and personal statements has not taken place.
- Our careers guidance, in the form of breakfast briefings, where we invite industry professionals and university academics in has not been able to take place.
- Year group assemblies and PSE guidance has not been able to take place in the usual format of support and students haven’t benefitted from this.