Labour is today [Tuesday] demanding the Government set out plans
for 2022 assessments by the return to school on 1 September, as
new analysis reveals that the average year 10 pupil has missed
one in four days of face-to-face GCSE or BTEC teaching this year.
Education Secretary told the
Education Select Committee that changes will be made to next
year’s exams but has given no further details.
At an Edge Foundation event on reforming assessments, Shadow
Education Secretary, will set the deadline of 1 September for clarity on
2022 assessments while urging Conservative Ministers not to
repeat the mistakes of the last two academic years.
Green will restate Labour’s concerns about ‘striking
inconsistencies’ in the process that schools and colleges have
used to assess pupils’ grades after the Government failed to
provide clear direction on what work should be used.
At a Labour roundtable on exams last month, year 11 and 13
students talked of the frustration and stress they have felt
about this year’s assessment process, including seeing friends at
other schools or colleges having very different grading
processes.
A-level student Ethan said: “guidance wasn't given till so late
on and the fact everyone has had a different experience, being
left in the dark just shows the extent of the inequality across
education.”
Fellow A-level student, Aga highlighted the lack of guidance
coming from Government to schools left teachers stressed and
unable to support their students: “honestly I felt sorry for
teachers too because I know a lot of mine were frustrated with
the lack of clear guidance. They wanted the best for us but had
to wait for instructions”.
Green will urge Ministers to work with exam boards and the
education sector urgently to deliver system that is genuinely
fair for all pupils next summer. She will also call for the
Government to set out a comprehensive recovery plan which would
help to level the playing field for the pupils who have missed
most learning.
Labour has launched a recovery plan which would enable all young
people to bounce back from the pandemic. Under Labour’s plan all
pupils who need it would be able to access tutoring with
additional academic help targeted at pupils on free school meals
who are most likely to have missed school and struggled to learn
remotely over the last year.
, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:
"The Conservatives’ poor planning and preparation has created a
second year of exam chaos.
“Uncertainty just piles pressure on pupils and teachers, so the
longer ministers dither and delay, the harder it will be to set a
level playing field and ensure every pupil gets fair grades.
"Ministers need to learn from their mistakes and set out a plan
by the time pupils return to school in September.”
Notes to editors
- Y10 pupils have, on average, been out of school for in four
days this year.
Days missed per secondary pupil 2020/21 year:
|
Days out of school (secondary)
|
|
Winter 2020
|
18324864
|
|
Spring 2021
|
133591708
|
|
Summer 2021
|
3214026
|
|
Total
|
155130598
|
|
Per secondary pupil
|
46
|
|
Total school days in school year
|
190
|
|
Days out of school per pupil
|
46
|
|
Proportion of days out of school
|
24%
|
Source attendance data: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2021-week-26
Source school year: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07148/SN07148.pdf
Pupil numbers: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics
