Practical endorsement guidance for
remote monitoring 2021-22
A Level Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Physics
This resource gives schools/colleges guidance on the Practical Endorsement remote monitoring for
A-level Science specifications that require monitoring during Cycle 4, Year 1 (2021-22).
Changes to Practical Endorsement monitoring for 2021-22
Each UK Centre offering A Level Science has a regular monitoring visit from one of four awarding
bodies (AQA, Eduqas, OCR and Pearson) to ascertain whether they are following the Common
Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) and understand the demands of the practical endorsement.
This ensures that each candidate achieving a pass grade for the practical endorsement is
assessed to the same standard.
The practical endorsement monitoring visit usually lasts half a school day and involves a review of
teacher and student records of completed practical work and a discussion of planned practical
work. The monitor also routinely observes a practical lesson to assess the centre’s application of
the CPAC criteria.
For the 2021-22 academic year, all monitoring will take place remotely. The monitor will
contact the centre to co-ordinate the review of work and additional discussions remotely. A
practical lesson observation will not be required.
Review: The minimum documentary requirements
The assessment of the practical endorsement is undertaken by teachers as they directly observe
students carrying out practical activities. The minimum documentary requirements that schools and
colleges are required to maintain for review remains unchanged from the face-to-face monitoring
visits. The monitor will still need to review this documentation.
Remote review of Practical Endorsement
This will be carried out in three steps. Step one requires the Centre to send teachers’ records of
student assessment. In step two, the Monitor will request student work to review. In step three, the
Monitor will discuss submitted evidence with a teacher at your Centre (usually the Lead teacher).
Step one: Review of teachers’ records:
The format of teacher records will vary between teachers. Your Monitor will be happy to look at
records in any format that show the relevant information.
The documents that need to be seen in step one are:
A. Documented plans to carry out sufficient practical activities which meet the
requirements of CPAC, incorporating skills and techniques detailed in appendix 5,
over the course of the A level;
B. Records of each practical activity undertaken and the date when this was completed;
C. Records of student attendance;
D. Records of which student met the criteria and which did not.
The Monitor will also need to see evidence that the Lead teacher has undertaken endorsement
training.
Choose
