Teacher Assessed Grades

Updated May 2021

This year due to the exceptional circumstances as a result of Covid 19 and Government restrictions, the way grades will be awarded has changed for certain qualifications as directed by the Government and associated examination boards. Some examinations have been cancelled and assessments may be different to other years. Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) may be awarded for those qualifications that have been identified for TAGs.

Teachers, tutors, and assessors are talking to students about this process and the types of evidence that will be used to support the TAG.

Please note teachers and the College are not allowed to share the TAG grade submitted, as directed by the Government appointed body Ofqual.

The Bridgwater & Taunton College Centre Policy for summer 2021 relates to A/AS Levels and GCSEs and can be viewed here.

All students should monitor communications from the college and interact with tutors and course leaders as requested.

Bridgwater & Taunton College Teacher Assessed Grade (TAG) Process (for qualifications that are eligible for the TAG process)

Updated June 2021

We have developed a robust process for awarding TAGs this summer to help ensure that each student receives the appropriate grade. All staff involved with awarding TAGs will attend training for this process.

TAGs are awarded based on the evidence that is available, they are not a predicted grade. All TAGs will be awarded by carrying out a full review of all of the evidence available for each individual student. The evidence will be carefully examined and the most appropriate and reliable evidence that closely aligns with the Awarding Organisation guidance will be selected. TAGs will be awarded by at least two members of the curriculum team to ensure fairness and consistency.

The TAGs will then be subject to an Internal Quality Assurance and Standardisation process within the curriculum team and a further quality meeting will take place to ensure that the TAGs are correct for each individual student.

Students will be informed of the evidence being used towards their TAG, however we are not allowed to share the TAG grade.

TAGs will be released to students on:

• Level 3 qualifications – 10 August 2021
• Level 2 qualifications – 12 August 2021

Results
Students will receive their results via the student portal. A link will be emailed, so please email MIShelpdesk@btc.ac.uk to update your email address if it has changed.

10 August 2021
A Levels, EPQ, Level 3 BTEC, Level 3 UAL, Level 3 City & Guilds Technical Qualifications

12 August 2021
GCSEs, Level 2 BTEC, Level 2 UAL, Level 2 City & Guild Technical Qualifications

Results will be issued at 8.30am each results day and a confirmation letter will be sent to arrive the following day. Staff will be available to offer support should you need to get in touch.

A clear appeals process will be posted on the website once all information has been received from the relevant awarding bodies and will be in place before the release of the TAG results.

Please note that our students will be asked to sign a declaration form to confirm that the work used for TAGs is their own work, that they understand the TAG process and know which evidence has been used towards their TAG. Any student who has an agreed access arrangement will also need to complete a declaration form regarding their access arrangements for assessments.

Important Information for Students

What may happen to your grade during the centre review and appeals process?
If you request a centre review or an awarding organisation appeal, there are three possible outcomes:

• Your original grade is lowered, so your final grade will be lower than the original grade you received
• Your original grade is confirmed, so there is no change to your grade
• Your original grade is raised, so your final grade will be higher than the original grade you received

Once a finding has been made you cannot withdraw your request for a centre review or appeal. If your grade has been lowered, you will not be able to revert back to the original grade you received on results day.

What will be checked during a centre review?
You can ask the centre to check whether it made a procedural error, an administrative error, or both. A procedural error means a failure to follow the process set out in the centre policy. An administrative error means an error in recording your grade or submitting your grade to the awarding organisation.

You must request a centre review before you can request an awarding organisation appeal. This is so the awarding organisation is certain that your grade is as the centre intended.

What will be checked during an awarding organisation appeal?
You can ask the awarding organisation to check whether the centre made a procedural or administrative error – or whether the awarding organisation itself made an administrative error. You can also ask the awarding organisation to check whether the academic judgement of the centre was unreasonable, either in the selection of evidence or the determination of your grade.

When do I need to submit my request?
You should wait until you have received your grade. You should submit a request for a centre review by 16 August 2021 for a priority appeal, or by 3 September 2021 for non-priority appeals.

Once you have received the outcome of your centre review, if you wish to request an awarding organisation appeal you should do so as soon as possible. Your school or college will submit this on your behalf. Requests for a priority appeal should be submitted by 23 August 2021 and requests for non-priority appeals should be submitted by 17 September 2021. Priority appeals that aren’t submitted to the awarding organisation by 23 August 2021 will still be treated as a priority, but they may not be completed in time for those with a higher education place dependent on the outcome of the appeal.

What is a priority appeal?
A priority appeal is only for students applying to higher education who did not attain their firm choice (i.e. the offer they accepted as their first choice) and wish to appeal an A level or other Level 3 qualification result. You should inform your intended higher education provider that you have requested a centre review or appeal.

What is your UCAS personal ID and why is it needed?
Your UCAS personal ID is the 10 digit code included in all correspondence from UCAS. This is needed to confirm that a student’s place is dependent on the outcome of the appeal.

Click here to access the Teacher Assessed Grade (TAG) Appeal – Stage one – Centre Review
Click here to access the Teacher Assessed Grade (TAG) Appeal – Stage two – appeal to awarding organisation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We appreciate during this unprecedented time that our staff, students, employer partners and other stakeholders may have questions. We would appreciate anyone with questions reading our FAQs before contacting the College. If you do not find the answer to your question, please email info@btc.ac.uk.

Will the summer exams be taking place in 2021?
The only exams which will be taking place are the following:

• Functional Skills
• Practical assessments for competency/ license to practice courses

I am due to take exams what will happen in their place?
Teachers will submit the grade a student is currently performing at, not their potential grade.

If the exams are cancelled, why am I expected to attend lessons?
It’s important that you complete the course and ensure you attend all of your lessons (in college and online). This will enable you to demonstrate your abilities and influence your grade helping to ensure you are able you to progress to the next level, whether this is to continue in education, training or employment. By completing your studies, it will support you in achieving your next steps.

I am being asked to submit work for marking, does this count towards my final grade?
Yes, work completed now can, and will, count towards the teacher assessed grades. At the moment, you can influence your grade by fully engaging in your course and completing all assessments to the best of your ability.

Does the work I completed throughout my course count towards my final grade?
Yes, evidence can be used from the duration of your course.

I have been enrolled on Functional Skills, will I be taking my exam?
Functional skills exams can be taken throughout the year.  These will take place as usual.

Is social distancing in place during the exams?
Yes, your health and safety is of paramount importance, rest assured social distancing measures are in place across the College and this includes exam rooms.

All students should monitor communications from the College and interact with tutors and course leaders as requested.