Letter to governors and trustees from Ofqual

Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, Chief Regulator, Ofqual has written to governors and trustees in England.

The letter outlines the national context for qualification results this year and provides governors and trustees with advice on how to view their own schools results in context. Grading standards in 2025 will be maintained from summer 2024. This means that they will expect exam boards to ensure that the standard of work to achieve a particular grade remains the same as that expected in summer 2024.  He says:

“As governors and trustees you play an important role in supporting your Senior Leadership Teams to ensure effective arrangements for the safe delivery of exams and assessments each year, including being confident that the necessary cyber security arrangements are in place as the threats in this area increase.

All schools and colleges should also have arrangements in place to gather evidence of student performance to ensure resilience in the qualifications system, as set out in this guidance. It is important that appropriate evidence is available so that qualifications could be awarded even in the most unlikely of circumstances. As governors you may wish to seek assurance about the approach in place in your school, college or trust.

I hope that this information helps you to understand the national context when you consider exam results, and as the schools and colleges you work with prepare their students for exams and assessments next year. “

For more information on national outcomes this summer see Ofqual’s guide to results for AS and A level and guide to results for GCSE.