Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans for (a) GCSE, (b) BTEC and (c) A-level (i) exams and (ii) assessments to take place in 2021.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, asked Ofqual in June to consider a short delay to the GCSE, AS and A level exam timetable for the Summer 2021 series. The Department is continuing to work with Ofqual, the exam boards, regulators in the devolved administrations, and groups representing schools, colleges and higher education to consider the best approach, which gives children and schools additional catch-up time but does not hold up progression. We recognise the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible for students, schools and colleges on the timing of exams in 2021, and an announcement will be made once it is appropriate to do so.

The Department has also been working with Ofqual regarding requirements for assessments and examinations for vocational and technical qualifications, which includes BTEC qualifications. Ofqual has also consulted and engaged with awarding organisations to agree revisions to its Extraordinary Regulatory Framework for vocational and technical qualifications (including BTECs) and its associated guidance on how awarding organisations might adapt assessments in 2020/21, including timetabling considerations.