• January 4, 2021

GCSE and A-level exams set to be cancelled as Boris Johnson announces national lockdown

GCSE and A-level exams set to be cancelled as Boris Johnson announces national lockdown

LONDON Jan 4: Exams for pupils across England will not go ahead as currently planned, Boris Johnson has confirmed. Gavin Williamson is in talks with exam regulator Ofqual about how students taking GCSEs and A-levels will be assessed.

BTEC exams happening in this week will continue, the Mirror reported.

Speaking from Downing St, Mr Johnson said the move on schools means “it’s not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer, as normal”.

He said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will work with regulator Ofqual to put in place “alternative arrangements”.

The PM added: “We will provide extra support to ensure that pupils entitled to free school meals will continue to receive them while schools are closed, and we will distribute more devices to support remote education.”

Shadow schools minister Wes Streeting tweeted: “Johnson just cancelled exams without any plan to replace them. This will cause additional anxiety for pupils and teachers.

“We’ve called for months for a Plan B in case exams couldn’t take place. He should be announcing that plan, not starting with a blank sheet of paper!”

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, the largest head teachers union said: “In recognising that there will have to be major alterations to plans for GCSEs and A Levels this year, the government has thankfully, and not a moment too soon, acknowledged what the profession has been saying for some time.

“We must have a robust set of arrangements that command public confidence. A repeat of the chaos of 2020 must not be allowed.”