Catch up on the latest from OCR

With half term here for many of you, we hope you're able to enjoy a well-deserved rest. If you're continuing to work on through, or if half term isn't for another week, remember we're here to support you – please don't hesitate to get in touch.?

As we approach summer 2022, please remind your colleagues to?sign up to receive our email updates?so we can keep you all up to date with our weekly roundup and subject-specific resources and support.

In this week's roundup:

• a reminder that you can download advance information via our online finder tool?for the majority of GCSEs, AS and A Levels, as well as Core Maths and FSMQ. To help with your questions, we'll be running free subject-specific Q&A webinars beginning next week
• November 2021 GCSE results (for all subjects except Maths and English) will be issued on 23/24 February. For students who wish to resit in June 2022, we've extended the entry deadline to?21 March.?We've updated the key dates on?our website
• if you're new to Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals or need a refresher, we're offering free Admin Essentials webinars
• spotlight on...the Media and Film Subject Advisor team supporting you
• today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In a Cambridge University Press and Assessment article, we highlight some inspirational female scientists working in the field, and what we're doing to raise the profile of women in science
• become a member of the Cambridge Assessment Network and enjoy exclusive networking opportunities and discounted CPD courses
• some handy reminders:
• take a look at our?2021/22 adaptations?for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals, and our?summer 2022 arrangements?for AS, A Level and GCSE qualifications
• download the?final exam timetables?for the summer 2022 exams
• preparing for assessments and exams can be a daunting experience, especially if your students are stressed and struggling to focus. To help students, see our two infographics:?how to manage your time?and?procrastination – how to beat it.?Students can also check out our top tips webpages for?successful revision?and?managing stress.

If you have any questions or need support at any time, remember to check out our dedicated?supporting you pages, our range of?FAQs, and don't hesitate to?get in touch?if you need more advice.?

Finally, just a reminder we won't be sending the usual weekly roundup on Friday 18 February due to half term.

We hope you have a lovely weekend and enjoy the half term break.

Advance information for summer 2022 exams is available

Just as a reminder, you can download advance information via our?online finder tool?for the majority of GCSEs, AS and A Levels, as well as for Core Maths and FSMQ.

Advance information is one of the?measures?in place to support students taking GCSE, AS and A Level exams this summer.

Have you booked your place on our live Q&A webinars?

Beginning next week, we're looking forward to seeing many of you at our Q&A webinars to support you with advance information. These will include an overview of your subject's advance information and you'll be able to have your questions answered by our Subject Advisors. Don't worry if you can't join the live webinars due to half term or they're fully booked; we'll make the recordings available for you to watch on-demand. We'll also be publishing a series of subject-specific blogs based on your questions on our website after the webinars.

Our webinars are proving very popular but there's still space available for the following:

14/02/2022 – GCSE & A Level Drama

15/02/2022 – GCSE & A Level Design and Technology

15/02/2022 – A Level English

15/02/2022 – GCSE & A Level Media Studies

21/02/2022 – A Level Ancient History

21/02/2022 – GCSE English

21/02/2022 – GCSE & A Level Music

22/02/2022 – A Level Geography

23/02/2022 – GCSE & A Level Mathematics

24/02/2022 – GCSE & A Level Classical Greek

To book your place, search our professional development?webpage?by subject (look for 'Advance information for summer 2022 Q&A webinar').

You might like to take a look at some extra guidance about advance information to support you and your students:

• in our?teacher?and?student?blog posts, Lead Subject Advisor Grant Robertson answers some of your questions on advance information
• the DfE's?blog?discusses advance information as one of the measures helping students prepare for exams this summer
• Ofqual's new guidance offers advice for students on?coping with exam pressure?and?subject-by-subject support for GCSE, AS and A Level students
• the JCQ has published new FAQs for students and teachers and a new student guide on their?webpage.

Admin Essentials for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals

Our online?Admin Essentials?webinars for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals are available to book this term.

Suitable for exams officers and teaching staff who are new to these qualifications or those seeking a refresher, the events are designed to give you an understanding of the key administration processes for our qualifications.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

In this?Cambridge University Press and Assessment article, we highlight some inspirational female scientists working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and how we've been raising the profile of female achievement.

In the article, our CEO, Jill Duffy, celebrates the increase in girls taking A Level Sciences, but recognises we need to keep encouraging girls to overcome stereotypes: "It’s great to see more girls taking A Level Sciences every year. I’m the parent of two daughters who are successful scientists and I’m committed to making studying science as accessible and relevant as possible for all young women."

As a reminder, you can download our Women in Science posters and desktop wallpapers?here.

New membership opportunity with Cambridge Assessment Network

Enhance your status as a recognised assessment expert by becoming a member of the?Cambridge Assessment Network. Launching soon, their membership scheme offers rich discussion opportunities amongst a global community of assessment professionals, supported by the very best quality training and resources.

Benefits include access to their professional awards, exclusive member-only discounted CPD courses and training, and the chance to connect with assessment professionals globally – sharing ideas, best practice and experience.?

Register your interest to be the first to know when our membership programme launches.