NEU comments on Welsh Government announcement on exams for 2020/21

Commenting on Wales Education Minister Kirsty Williams’ approach for qualifications in 2021, announced today, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:

“Yet again England is lagging beyond other nation states in their approach to education during a pandemic.

“The Welsh Government has made clear decisions about next year’s GCSE, AS and A level examinations. The current position in England of a three-week delay to 2021 examinations is simply not good enough.

“Education is not as normal. Months of classroom learning have already been lost and many young people will continue to have to spend varying degrees of time out of school.

“All of this is glaringly obvious apart, it would appear, to the Education Secretary for England.

“We now need the Department for Education to alter their course and ensure England has a system in place that ensures every young person has a fair chance to achieve their potential. Its proposals to make GCSE and A levels viable and fairer are completely inadequate and it's about time they started to discuss the issue with the profession.

“Gavin Williamson must take note. Parents, schools, colleges and students have not forgotten last year's examination debacle. They will certainly not forgive another one.”