Y12 Formal Examinations

I hope this email finds you well.

The STC IB Team, along with the Senior School and Higher Education Teams, have been working closely to ensure that students are at the heart of processes that now, through necessity, need to be delivered in an innovative way. With this in mind, we want to acknowledge the student learning that has taken place and is evidenced by the continual online assessments that have occurred in all IBDP subjects for the past 9 weeks. With this evidence, it is clear that subject teachers and students have a good understanding of areas of excellence, skills attained and challenges that are still present and to be worked on now and in the next school year.

We therefore feel it is not necessary for students to sit a formal Y12 examination in their subjects. Additionally, If we did return to school in late May, we would not want our Y12s to sit a formal examination session for the following reasons:

• Students would be out of lessons for one week. These face to face lessons need to be prioritized.
• Students ‘ well-being would be adversely affected if they return to school and are placed immediately into an examination session. Face to face student/teacher relationships need to be prioritized.

Timed assessments will continue to take place online. Other assessments including compulsory coursework components, and subject specific testing are ongoing.

Each student will be given a ‘working grade’ at the end of this school year. This grade will be based on assessments and progress made throughout year 1 of the diploma. As the name suggests, this grade reflects the current level the student has attained. Our Higher Education team feels this grade is a good indicator to students about possible future pathways after Sha Tin College. A Higher Education predicted grade will be given to each student for each subject in Sept/Oct 2020 depending on what courses they apply for and where they apply. I am looking forward to the HE evening next Tuesday where more details will be given about this process.

If you have any questions about this, or any curriculum specific concern, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Kellie Fagan
Vice Principal