Coronavirus: Put back GCSE and A-level exams, says Labour

Subsequent yr’s A-level and GCSE exams in England must be pushed back to mid-summer to assist deal with the affect of coronavirus, Labour has mentioned.

Shadow schooling secretary Kate Inexperienced mentioned college students beginning 12 months 11 and 13 in September had “a mountain to climb”, having missed months of education.

Exams scheduled for Might ought to occur as late as July to permit extra catch-up educating time, she added.

The federal government mentioned it could “take into account” its method however exams would go forward.

With no exams going down this summer time, and different evaluation strategies getting used, college students received report 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 lecturers’ estimates as a substitute.

GCSEs and A-level exams are anticipated to happen as regular subsequent yr however Ms Inexperienced mentioned: “Pupils throughout the nation who’ve missed out on very important educating time could have a mountain to climb to arrange for Might exams until 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 back to highschool want readability and certainty in regards to the yr forward.”

‘Publication delay’

Paul Whiteman, common secretary of faculty leaders’ union NAHT, mentioned 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 increased schooling suppliers resembling universities and schools, in addition to employers.”

Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who chairs the Commons Training Choose Committee, mentioned there was solely a “50:50” likelihood of A-level and GCSE exams going down in any respect subsequent summer time, regardless of the federal government’s promise.

He advised the Sunday Times 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 mentioned: “Getting all kids back into their lecture rooms full-time in September is a nationwide precedence, as they’re the very best place for his or her schooling, improvement and wellbeing.

“We recognise that college students as a result of take exams subsequent summer time could have skilled disruption to their schooling, which is why we prioritised bringing 12 months 10 and 12 months 12 pupils back to highschool final time period.

“Exams will go forward subsequent yr, and we’ve got been working carefully with the sector, Ofqual and examination boards to think about our method.”