Welsh Education Minister announces exam arrangements for Years 10 and 12

The Welsh Education Minister @Kirsty_Williams has announced how current Year 10 and 12 learners in Wales will be assessed, as alternative arrangements are introduced following the outbreak of the #coronavirus and the cancellation of summer exams.

The Minister has decided that Year 10 and 12 students who were due to sit exams this summer will not be required to sit these exams at a later date.

The Minister’s decision was based on detailed consideration of the options available and advice from Qualifications Wales and the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC).

AS levels

In Wales, as well as being stand-alone qualifications, AS levels also contribute to A level qualifications. AS units are usually taken in Year 12, with A2 units taken in Year 13.

This year’s AS learners will still receive an AS grade. However, it will be calculated using a range of evidence, including teacher assessed grades.

In summer 2021, current AS learners will have two options for their A level award. They will choose whether to:

• only sit the A2 units, with the A level grade based on their performance in the A2 units;

• or sit both the AS and A2 units. They will be awarded the best grade from either route.

Year 10

Year 10 learners who were due to sit exams that would have led to a GCSE this summer will be issued a grade in the same way as those in Year 11. The grade will be based on evidence including teacher assessments during the academic year to date.

Those who were due to sit units that will lead to GCSE results next summer will not receive a unit result. Instead, those learners will have two choices, to either:  

• sit only the units they plan to take in summer 2021, with their GCSE grade based on that performance only;

• or sit the Year 10 units in summer 2021, along with the Year 11 units. They will be awarded the best grade from either route.

Kirsty Williams said:

“In these unprecedented times, it’s vital we provide as much certainty to young people as we can, especially those who were due to sit important exams this summer. This has not been an easy decision, but I’m confident these measures for Years 10 and 12 are the best way forward and will provide clarity for those students who were anxious about how their hard work would be recognised.

“Since the decision to close schools and cancel this summer’s exams, we have worked as quickly as possible to develop the detailed information students need.

 “I would like to thank students for their patience and I will continue to provide updates to students as soon as I can.”

Philip Blaker, Chief Executive Qualifications Wales, said:

“We welcome the Minister’s decision, which provides greater clarity on this summer’s exams for everyone involved in these qualifications. In very difficult circumstances we think this offers the best approach for learners studying for AS and those in Year 10.

“Beyond this, there is more work happening to find solutions across other qualifications. We remain focused on doing the right thing to protect learners at this disruptive time and we will continue to update as often as we possibly can.”

Ian Morgan, Chief Executive of WJEC:

“Following the Minister’s decision last week about school closures and the cancellation of this summer’s exams, we have been working closely with Qualifications Wales to consider the impact for all learners.

“We welcome today’s announcement on the options available to year 10 and 12 learners. We will work as swiftly as possible to put all the necessary actions in place and ensure that learners receive recognition for all their hard work, are treated fairly and receive the qualifications they deserve.”

Gweinidog Addysg yn cyhoeddi trefniadau arholi ar gyfer blynyddoedd 10 a 12

Mae’r Gweinidog Addysg, Kirsty Williams wedi cyhoeddi sut y bydd dysgwyr Blwyddyn 10 a 12 yng Nghymru yn cael eu hasesu, wrth i drefniadau amgen gael eu cyflwyno yn dilyn y coronafeirws a chanslo arholiadau’r haf.

Mae’r Gweinidog wedi penderfynu na fydd yn ofynnol i fyfyrwyr blwyddyn 10 a 12 oedd ar fin sefyll arholiadau yn yr haf sefyll yr arholiadau hynny ar ddyddiad  diweddarach.

Roedd penderfyniad y Gweinidog yn seiliedig ar ystyriaeth fanwl o’r opsiynau oedd ar gael a chyngor gan Cymwysterau Cymru a Chyd-Bwyllgor Addysg Cymru (CBAC).

Safon UG

Yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â bod yn gymwysterau annibynnol, mae safon UG hefyd yn cyfrannu at gymwysterau Safon Uwch. Mae unedau UG yn cael eu sefyll ym Mlwyddyn 12 fel arfer, gydag unedau U2 yn cael eu sefyll ym Mlwyddyn 13.

Eleni, bydd dysgwyr Safon UG yn cael gradd. Bydd yn seiliedig ar ystod o dystiolaeth, gan gynnwys graddau a aseswyd gan yr athro.

Yn haf 2021, bydd gan y dysgwyr UG presennol ddau ddewis ar gyfer eu dyfarniad Safon Uwch. Gallant ddewis a ydynt am:

• sefyll yr unedau U2 yn unig, gyda’r radd Safon Uwch yn cael ei dyfarnu ar eu perfformiad yn yr unedau U2 yn unig;
• neu sefyll yr unedau UG ac U2. Byddant yn derbyn y radd orau o’r naill lwybr neu’r llall.

Blwyddyn 10

Bydd dysgwyr Blwyddyn 10 a oedd ar fin sefyll arholiadau a fyddai wedi arwain at TGAU yr haf hwn yn cael gradd yn yr un ffordd â’r rheini ym Mlwyddyn 11. Bydd y radd yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth gan gynnwys asesiadau athrawon yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd hyd yma.

Ni fydd y rhai a oedd i fod i sefyll unedau a fydd yn arwain at ganlyniadau TGAU yr haf nesaf yn cael canlyniadau uned. Yn hytrach, bydd gan y dysgwyr hynny ddau ddewis, naill ai: 

• sefyll yr unedau y maent yn bwriadu eu cymryd yn unig yn ystod yr haf 2021, gyda’u gradd TGAU yn seiliedig ar y perfformiad hwnnw’n unig;
• neu sefyll unedau Blwyddyn 10 yn haf 2021, ynghyd ag unedau blwyddyn 11. Byddant yn derbyn y radd orau o’r naill lwybr neu’r llall.

Dywedodd Kirsty Williams:

“Yn y cyfnod hwn, na welwyd ei debyg o’r blaen, mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn rhoi cymaint o sicrwydd i bobl ifanc ag y gallwn, yn enwedig y rhai oedd ar fin sefyll arholiadau pwysig yr haf hwn. Nid oedd hwn yn benderfyniad hawdd, ond rwy’n hyderus mai’r mesurau hyn ar gyfer Blynyddoedd 10 a 12 yw’r ffordd orau ymlaen. Byddant yn rhoi eglurder i’r myfyrwyr hynny a oedd yn bryderus ynghylch sut y byddai eu gwaith caled yn cael ei gydnabod.

 “Ers y penderfyniad i gau ysgolion a chanslo arholiadau’r haf hwn, rydym wedi gweithio mor gyflym â phosibl i ddatblygu’r wybodaeth fanwl sydd ei hangen ar fyfyrwyr.

 “Hoffwn ddiolch i fyfyrwyr am eu hamynedd a byddaf yn parhau i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf iddynt cyn gynted ag y gallaf.”

Dywedodd Philip Blaker, Prif Weithredwr Cymwysterau Cymru:

“Rydym yn croesawu penderfyniad y Gweinidog, sy’n rhoi mwy o eglurder ar arholiadau’r haf hwn i bawb sy’n ymwneud â’r cymwysterau hyn. Mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn, credwn mai dyma sy’n cynnig y dull gorau i ddysgwyr sy’n astudio ar gyfer UG a blwyddyn 10.

“Y tu hwnt i hyn, mae mwy o waith yn digwydd i ddod o hyd i atebion ar draws cymwysterau eraill. Rydym yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar wneud y peth iawn i amddiffyn dysgwyr ar yr amser trafferthus hwn a byddwn yn parhau i ddarparu’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf mor aml ag y gallwn.”

Dywedodd Ian Morgan, Prif Weithredwr CBAC:

 “Yn dilyn penderfyniad y Gweinidog yr wythnos ddiwethaf ynghylch cau ysgolion a chanslo arholiadau’r haf hwn, rydym wedi bod yn gweithio’n agos gyda Cymwysterau Cymru i ystyried yr effaith ar bob dysgwr.

“Rydym yn croesawu cyhoeddiad heddiw ar yr opsiynau sydd ar gael i ddysgwyr Blwyddyn 10 a 12. Byddwn yn gweithio mor gyflym â phosibl i roi’r holl gamau angenrheidiol ar waith a sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael cydnabyddiaeth am eu holl waith caled, gan gael eu trin yn deg a derbyn y cymwysterau y maent yn eu haeddu.