Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 124804 on Students: Coronavirus, what the terms of reference are for the group monitoring and advising on lost and differential learning due to the covid-19 outbreak; when its members were appointed; who those members are; how many times the group plans to meet; and when it plans to report.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the Government considers that exams cannot be held in a way which is fair. We have therefore announced that GCSE, AS and A level exams will not go ahead this summer as planned.

The Department has confirmed our proposal that, in summer 2021, students taking GCSE, AS and A levels regulated by Ofqual should be awarded grades based on an assessment by their teachers. To provide further clarity to the sector as soon as possible, Ofqual and the Department have launched a two-week consultation on how to fairly ensure all young people are supported to progress to the next stage of their lives.

In December 2020, the Department confirmed the launch of an expert advisory group to consider the differential impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on pupils and recommend mitigations for these impacts. In light of the decision to cancel exams, the Department is refocusing this group and is working to finalise the terms of reference and membership. We will ensure that membership is representative of the sector and is geographically diverse. Further details on membership and priorities of the group will be provided in due course.