Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that students in Rother Valley who have been unable to sit their BTEC and vocational exams in January 2021 due to the covid-19 outbreak are not disadvantaged compared with students who have sat those exams.

We want to ensure that no student is disadvantaged if they cannot take their exam or assessment. In consultation with Ofqual, awarding organisations and the sector we will develop an approach to ensure students receive a fair grade. If a student is unable to take their exam or assessment in January 2021, for example, if they are shielding or their provider is unable to offer the assessment, they will not be disadvantaged.

We will continue to develop our approach in consultation with Ofqual, awarding organisations and the sector, providing more detail on the way forward for vocational exams and assessments for February 2021 onwards.