Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support external candidates unable to sit GCSE exams that have been cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak but who must matriculate to sixth form education in 2020.

The Department anticipates that the vast majority of students will be able to use the calculated grades they receive in the summer to move on to their next steps.

There may be a relatively small number of students, including some private candidates, where there is not enough evidence to calculate a grade. The Department understands that 16 to 19 schools and colleges will consider a range of other evidence and information for these students to allow them to progress wherever possible.

Students who are unable to receive a calculated grade will also have the opportunity to sit exams in the autumn.