Schools: Exams

Baroness Morris of Bolton Excerpts

Wednesday 6th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Berridge (Con)]

My Lords, as I outlined, UCAS has extended the application window for two weeks. I am anticipating that external moderation will be part of what the consultation will include. That will be swift; it needs to be a valid consultation, but we know that we need to give certainty as soon as we can to schools, pupils and families. It may be that as I speak the Secretary of State is in the other place outlining further details. I am obviously not at liberty to give them today but I will be repeating that Statement tomorrow.

[The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Morris of Bolton) (Con)]

The next speaker is the noble Lord, Lord Austin of Dudley.

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

We cannot hear the noble Lord. Can he repeat his question?

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Berridge (Con)]

My Lords, as I have outlined, the Government closed schools as a last resort and cancelled exams as the best independent way of assessing students’ performance. The tectonic plate that shifted with the new variant over the Christmas and after-Christmas period has changed things dramatically from the last time that I stood at the Dispatch Box. However, it remains the case in England, as I have outlined—there are different approaches in different parts of the United Kingdom because of different education systems—that most students in England transition at 16, and that is why an examination at 16 is important.

[The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Morris of Bolton) (Con)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Private Notice Question has elapsed.