In response to Labours calls to delay next year’s A-level and
GCSE exams in England, a DfE spokesperson said:
“Getting all children back into their classrooms full-time in
September is a national priority as they are the best place for
their education, development and wellbeing.
“We recognise that students due to take exams next summer will
have experienced disruption to their education, which is why we
prioritised bringing Year 10 and Year 12 pupils back to school
last term.
“Exams will go ahead next year, and we have been working closely
with the sector, Ofqual and exam boards to consider our
approach.”
Background Information:
• Ofqual has already consulted on a range of possible adaptations
to GCSE, AS and A level exams and assessments next year on a
subject-by-subject basis.
• We will continue to discuss these issues with school and
college stakeholders, Ofqual and the exam boards, to ensure that
exams in 2021 are fair.
Commenting on Labour’s call to push back the date of next
year’s GCSE and A-level exams in England, Geoff Barton, General
Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders,
said:
“We support the idea of delaying exams next year to provide more
teaching time, as long as that doesn’t delay the publication of
results and disrupt progression to further and higher education.
Ofqual has been considering this question for some time and we
look forward to a decision.
“We also remain very concerned that there is still no contingency
plan in the event that students are unable to take exams next
year because of coronavirus outbreaks, or that their preparation
is so disrupted that they are placed at a significant
disadvantage.”
