The following image outlines how Vocational and Technical Qualifications will be awarded for 2021.

The Government has confirmed that no external examinations will take place this summer. Instead, teachers will assess the standard at which students are performing at based on a portfolio of evidence and this portfolio of evidence will form a TAG (teacher assessed grade).

The grades awarded to students must reflect their knowledge, skills and understanding, and schools/colleges can use a range of evidence to inform their judgements

The grades cannot be a prediction based on what students would have achieved under different circumstances or be a measure of a student’s potential.

At Reaseheath we are confident that we have implemented a robust TAG process with rigorous quality assurance systems in place which puts us in a firm position to assign fair and accurate grades for our students.

JCQ guidance says that evidence that will inform judgements may include:

• mock exam results
• coursework
• student work and assessments which have been produced over the duration of the course in response to assessment materials
• substantial class or homework (including those that took place during remote learning)
• assessments that students will complete in the remainder of this academic year.

Following the cancellation of exams by Ofqual, we made a strategic decision to move away from the formal mock exam scenario, to avoid additional, potentially stressful, exam style situations for our students. Instead, students have been completing regular in-class assessments to provide our staff with more evidence of the standard, at which, they are performing during this term. These in-class assessments are carried in controlled conditions and avoid the added pressure that a formal mock exam could bring. The staff will work with the Programme Leaders of both subjects to robustly assess and consider, all the evidence available, to ensure that grades awarded are fair and accurate.

Both teams are placing increased weighting on assessments completed during this rolling programme of assessment, however consideration will be given to all previously collected data. In the event of a situation where, because of circumstances this year, a student does not perform well in final milestones, then we will analyse earlier assessments and make a ‘holistic’ judgement about the student’s grade. Assessments used have been adapted so that they only cover what has been taught in the year and for GCSE maths, a list of topics has been shared with the students.

The grade will be based on evidence we have in the student’s portfolio. However, each student’s portfolio can be tailored to address any anomalies. We have put significant effort into ensuring that students entitled to access arrangements have had these put in place for the recent in-class assessments. If, however, this has not been the case, then this has been recorded and necessary adjustments, according to JCQ regulations will be made. Our rolling programme of assessment finishes at half term after which further opportunities will be provided for those who require them.

Decisions about grades will not be decided by one teacher alone. There will be a thorough quality assurance process in place to ensure there is fairness and consistency in the way grades are awarded for students.

Grades will be reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, at each part of this process. The process includes:

A group of teachers within each subject area studying all the evidence to decide upon the grade which a student is performing at

• The Programme Leader of each subject will review the proposed grade for each student,
• The Curriculum Area Manager of M&E will review the proposed grades of each department
• The exam officer will check the final grades entered for students as they are submitted to the exam board.

Teachers cannot discuss final grades with students this year, or predict outcomes, but are able to discuss the marking of individual elements of the portfolio and will always disclose which assessed pieces will form the portfolio. All discussions of marks and grading are provisional until exam board moderation has taken place, and the results are released on 12th August.

Results will be sent to your college email address at 9am on 12th August 2021 for GCSE and 10th August for Level 3 Maths.

Further information about the awarding of summer grades and the appeal process can be found in the following document:  JCQ-Guidance-for-Students-and-Parents-on-Summer-2021.pdf 

In line with the latest guidance, students will no longer be required to wear face coverings when at college. There may be occasions where you will be asked to wear a face covering in class if close contact is required.

Face coverings will be mandatory on college transport unless exempt.

Cash payments are not accepted on campus. Our finance system iPay can be used to top-up your account.

If you are having trouble logging in to your iPay account, please try resetting your password. If you find this still doesn’t work, please contact IT for further support.

For a step-by-step guide on how to top-up your iPay account, please read the iPay student top-up guide.

You can use your Xbox or PlayStation to access Microsoft Teams, so even if you don’t have a laptop, you can still access your learning at home during lockdown. Here’s how:

For PlayStation:

• Head to your console’s library and choose the option for games and applications
• Select applications and fire up the PS4 web browser
• Type Microsoft Teams in the browser and then log in to your account via your username and password
• This will give you access to all content online, including live sessions
• Don’t forget your headset if you need to interact!

For Xbox:

1. Go in to my games and apps
2. Find Microsoft Edge and select it
3. Type in ‘Microsoft Teams’ and log in as you would at college
4. You can then access your work through one drive and use key packages including Word,

PowerPoint and Excel Online

5. To move around, use the Xbox controller or plug in a mouse
6. Remember to plug in a headset if you need to interact!

It works best if you can use a USB mouse and keyboard, which should just plug-in to your console.

We recognise that many students will be feeling uncertain and anxious at this time. At Reaseheath positive mental health and wellbeing is important to us. Our sector-leading praised student health and wellbeing service will be on hand to support you throughout your time at Reaseheath. There is a range of wellbeing support, advice and guidance available on the BeWell Sharepoint page. Alternatively you can contact the team directly by emailing wellbeingteam@reaseheath.ac.uk

Students whose access to IT equipment, such as laptops, computers or tablets is limited at home, are offered various means of support and access to equipment in order to remove these barriers. If it is felt this is the case the student or parent/carer can flag this with the student’s Course Manager or our Learning Support Centre at LSC@reaseheath.ac.uk.

The government’s 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation so that they can remain in education, further information on how we are using this fund at Reaseheath is available here.

You can use your Xbox or PlayStation to access Microsoft Teams, so even if you don’t have a laptop, you can still access your learning at home during lockdown. Here’s how:

For PlayStation:

• Head to your console’s library and choose the option for games and applications
• Select applications and fire up the PS4 web browser
• Type Microsoft Teams in the browser and then log in to your account via your username and password
• This will give you access to all content online, including live sessions
• Don’t forget your headset if you need to interact!

For Xbox:

1. Go in to my games and apps
2. Find Microsoft Edge and select it
3. Type in ‘Microsoft Teams’ and log in as you would at college
4. You can then access your work through one drive and use key packages including Word,

PowerPoint and Excel Online

5. To move around, use the Xbox controller or plug in a mouse
6. Remember to plug in a headset if you need to interact!

It works best if you can use a USB mouse and keyboard, which should just plug-in to your console.

For further information see the Library Sharepoint pages or email us library@reaseheath.ac.uk – this address is monitored Monday – Friday 9-5 during term time and regularly in vacations. We can provide 1:1 support on teams by appointments made via email.

We subscribe to a wide variety of e-journal databases, look for the link to Find it @ the Library on the website. A demonstration video is available.

You will be required to login via your institution/Open Athens to gain full text access, again more info on the webpages.

We no longer use Shibboleth for authentication.

Please send an email to enquiries@reaseheath.ac.uk with your name, student reference number and your new email address.

Reaseheath Mini Zoo has been closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic in the interest of safety.

From Saturday 24th July 2021 we will be partially re-opening starting with our Animal Encounters and Keeper for a Day sessions again, and our Zoo School will be open too.

More information on these experiences, including details on how to book and dates for our Zoo School, can be found using the links above or by visiting our Facebook page.

Other than the experiences listed above, Reaseheath Mini Zoo will remain closed until further notice.

We will post any further updates about when we can reopen fully on this webpage and you can keep up to date with what is happening at Reaseheath Mini Zoo on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

If you have any questions, please contact us at zoo@reaseheath.ac.uk.