Williamson: Exams will go ahead in the summer
EDUCATION Secretary Gavin Williamson has vowed exams will go ahead this summer.
Although Scotland has announced that its equivalent of GCSES will not take place, Mr Williamson is adamant English students will sit the tests.
He said: “Fairness for pupils and students is my priority, which is why holding exams next summer is vital. We must put what’s best for children at the core of decision making and not allow Covid to put their education on hold.
“Exams are the fairest way for children to open the doors to the next stages of their future progress.”
Scottish Tories accused the SNP of having “thrown in the towel” in deciding it is “too big a risk” to hold the exams.
A key reason for wanting GCSES to go ahead is that millions of children change school, go to sixth form or a further education college after getting their results.
Most exams will start on June 7 instead of mid-may to give pupils a chance to make up for lost teaching time.
GCSE results will come out on August 27 – the same week as the A-levels results.
Plans believed to be under consideration include staggering exams to give pupils a better chance of sitting papers in case they need to self-isolate.