Subsequent yr's A-level and GCSE exams in England must be pushed again to mid-summ
Subsequent yr’s A-level and GCSE exams in England must be pushed again to mid-summer to assist address the impression of coronavirus, Labour has stated.
Shadow schooling secretary Kate Inexperienced stated college students beginning Yr 11 and 13 in September had “a mountain to climb”, having missed months of education.
Exams scheduled for Could ought to occur as late as July to permit extra catch-up educating time, she added.
The federal government stated it will “think about” its method however exams would go forward.
With no exams going down this summer season, and various evaluation strategies getting used, college students acquired document GCSE and A-level grades.
Examination boards initially marked down many candidates due to issues with an algorithm used for moderating outcomes.
However after an outcry from college students, the federal government carried out a U-turn and determined to base grades on academics’ estimates as a substitute.
GCSEs and A-level exams are anticipated to happen as regular subsequent yr however Ms Inexperienced stated: “Pupils throughout the nation who’ve missed out on very important educating time can have a mountain to climb to organize for Could exams except the federal government steps in.
“Ministers had warning after warning about issues with this yr’s examination outcomes however allowed it to descend right into a fiasco.”
She added: “Pupils heading again to highschool want readability and certainty concerning the yr forward.”
‘Publication delay’
Paul Whiteman, basic secretary of college leaders’ union NAHT, stated Labour’s plan was “worthy of significant consideration”.
However he added: “A delay shouldn’t be with out its issues. A consequential delay to the publication of outcomes will put stress on larger schooling suppliers equivalent to universities and schools, in addition to employers.”
Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who chairs the Commons Training Choose Committee, stated there was solely a “50:50” likelihood of A-level and GCSE exams going down in any respect subsequent summer season, regardless of the federal government’s promise.
He instructed the Sunday Occasions that exams regulator Ofqual ought to set an October deadline for deciding whether or not to cancel them and as a substitute base grades as soon as once more on trainer assessments.
A Division for Training spokesperson stated: “Getting all youngsters again into their school rooms full-time in September is a nationwide precedence, as they’re the very best place for his or her schooling, growth and wellbeing.
“We recognise that college students as a result of take exams subsequent summer season can have skilled disruption to their schooling, which is why we prioritised bringing Yr 10 and Yr 12 pupils again to highschool final time period.
“Exams will go forward subsequent yr, and now we have been working intently with the sector, Ofqual and examination boards to think about our method.”