Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) stakeholders on cancelling examinations for (a) SATS, (b) GCSEs and (c) A Levels in the 2020-21 academic year.

The Government is committed to GCSE, AS and A level exams taking place next year. We are also preparing for primary assessments to take place in 2021, to allow us to understand the impact of COVID-19 and target ongoing support to those that need it most. The Department has been working closely with Ofqual, the exam boards, groups representing teachers, schools, colleges, students, and teaching unions to consider our approach to exams and other assessments next year.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, asked Ofqual in June to consider a short delay to the GCSE, A and AS level exam timetable in 2021, to free up additional teaching time. On 12 October, we announced the decision to delay the majority of exams by 3 weeks.

The Department is working with Ofqual to engage with the sector and other primary stakeholders to develop contingencies in the event that disruption as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak affects students’ ability to sit exams. As part of these discussions the Secretary of State for Education has spoken to Ofqual, his counterparts in the devolved administrations, trade unions, to school leaders via our reference groups, as well as to senior multi-academy trust leaders. In addition, the Department has been in regular contact with Ofqual and exam Boards.

The Department also recognises that primary school pupils have missed a critical period of their education due to school closures in the 2019/20 academic year and are planning on the basis that statutory primary assessments will take place in 2020/21 to allow us to understand the impact of COVID-19 and target ongoing support to those that need it most. Those stakeholders noted above have also been consulted on this matter.