UCAS Grades Policy 2024 – Esher Sixth Form College

Introduction

The College aims to be consistent and optimistic when predicting student UCAS Grades. The UCAS Grade is what we believe a student will be likely to achieve by the end of their course in positive circumstances and should therefore be aspirational but achievable.

However, the College has a responsibility to ensure that our UCAS Grades are not excessively optimistic, as this is not in the best interests of the College or our students. In addition, UCAS Grades are commonly entered at the half-way point of a course. Therefore, with further academic development students can exceed their UCAS grade, and conversely, they may not always achieve their UCAS grade. The College UCAS Grades Policy is consistent with external UCAS guidance, please see link for further information.

A level

A level UCAS Grades will be based upon student achievement in internal assessments including their 6.1 Formal Exams, prior attainment at GCSE, 6.1 in-year performance and the professional judgement of subject teachers. When deciding whether to increase a UCAS Grade above the grade obtained in a student’s 6.1 Formal Exams, subject teachers will use individual performance data as evidence of student potential to inform their final judgement. UCAS Grades will be published via the Student Database and Parent & Carer Portal on June 26th. If significant and evidenced academic progress has been achieved over the summer period, where appropriate, subject areas may further increase UCAS grades at or before Progress Review 4 in October 2024. There will be no changes to UCAS grades before the summer break.

BTEC

BTEC UCAS Grades are based in internally assessed coursework and externally assessed exams completed in their 6.1 year. The UCAS Grade will be published via the Parent Portal on June 26th. Reporting on completed 6.1 BTEC qualifications (BTEC Extended Certificate in Applied Science, ICT, Health and Social Care and the BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care) will take place via the Student Database on BTEC results day. When deciding whether to increase a UCAS Grade above performance at 6.1, subject teachers will use prior attainment at GCSE and unit performance data to inform their final judgement. If significant and evidenced academic progress has been achieved over the summer period, where appropriate, subject areas may further increase UCAS grades at or before Progress Review 4 in October 2024. There will be no changes to UCAS grades before the summer break.