Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what contingency plans he has discussed with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) stakeholders in the education sector in the event that it is not possible for GCSE and A-Level students to take their exams in summer 2021.

The Department believes that examinations and assessments are the best and fairest way of judging students’ performance. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has confirmed that next year’s GCSE, AS and A level examination series will go ahead.

It is a priority for the Department that there is a consistent approach to what is taught and will be assessed across schools. We know schools will be making every effort, including in areas where there is a high prevalence of COVID-19, to deliver high quality teaching, including through remote education. All schools are expected to plan to ensure any pupils educated at home for some of the time are given the support they need to master the curriculum and make good progress.

Changes to assessments in certain subjects, announced by Ofqual over the summer, alongside the later starting date for exams in summer 2021, will give schools and colleges extra time to plan teaching and pupils extra time to study. The Government has committed to a £1 billion catch-up package, including a ‘Catch-Up Premium’ worth a total of £650 million. These changes will give students the best chance of being ready for their exams without undermining the value of the qualifications they receive.

The Department is working with Ofqual and engaging widely with the education sector to identify any risks to examinations at a national, local, and individual student level, and to consider measures needed to address any potential disruption. This could be a student unable to sit examinations due to illness or self-isolation, or schools affected by a local outbreak during the examination season resulting in examination centres not being able to open. More details will be published later in the autumn.