GCSE and A-Stage exams have been axed this summer time, it has been introduced tonight.
Hours after Boris Johnson gave a press convention on England’s strict new March-style lockdown, ministers confirmed summer time exams are cancelled.
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GCSE and A-Stage exams are cancelled this summer time, it has been confirmedCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation/PA Photos
In the meantime, colleges are closed till not less than the February half time periodCredit score: Reuters
Training Secretary Gavin Williamson will make an announcement in Parliament tomorrow Credit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Faculties have closed amid a 3rd nationwide lockdown in EnglandCredit score: Gov.UK
A Division for Training spokesperson stated: “The Authorities place is that we’ll not be asking college students to sit down GCSE and A-Ranges.”
Training Secretary Gavin Williamson has launched a quick assertion forward of a speech in Parliament tomorrow.
He instructed UK dad and mom: “
“I do know what a difficult time that is for households, younger folks, and for everybody working so exhausting in schooling. I additionally know the large lengths that lecturers and assist workers have gone to all through this pandemic – the good thing about that work on youngsters’s schooling and wellbeing is sort of merely immeasurable, and has enabled tens of millions to be again in lecture rooms spending invaluable time with their lecturers.
“It’s now important that we assist our younger folks at residence, together with ensuring all college students are receiving the very best distant schooling, and that these college students who had been on account of take exams can nonetheless progress to their subsequent stage of schooling or coaching.”
It got here as:
Ministers are working with the exams regulator Ofqual to discover a system for awarding grades that “displays the exhausting work” of pupils throughout the nation, he added.
It is probably that, as was the case final 12 months, teacher-assessed grades can be assigned.
The choice was made after the PM last night said the exams wouldn’t be “possible or fair” for teenagers compelled out of face-to-face educating for months in the course of the pandemic.
Faculties will stay shut till not less than the February half-term as a mutant pressure of Covid takes maintain in each area of England.
Nevertheless, in one other blow for beleaguered dad and mom, Mr Johnson has refused to ensure that every one youngsters can be again earlier than the summer time vacation.
The choice to plunge the nation again right into a strict new lockdown comes as one in each 50 folks dwelling in England is now thought to have coronavirus.
Hospital admissions have soared 40 per cent above the height in April, whereas the brand new variant is claimed to be as much as 70 per cent extra transmissible.
In England alone, the variety of sufferers in hospital with coronavirus has elevated by a 3rd previously week to simply beneath 27,000.
Consultants do not imagine the mutation is any extra harmful to youngsters.
Immediately’s each day case charge was the very best ever because the virus continues to surge within the UK
Boris Johnson final night time introduced a brand new lockdown, with colleges shut, family mixing banned and all non-essential companies shuttered
Nevertheless, officers worry kids are spreading it amongst themselves – earlier than taking it again to their household houses.
It is understood that though conventional exams are out for the 12 months, colleges and faculties in England can be given the pliability to resolve whether or not they need to run vocational exams on account of happen this month.
Ministers confronted calls to cancel Btec exams scheduled for this week amid issues over college students’ security and equity within the wake of recent restrictions.
However the Division for Training (DfE) has stated colleges and faculties can proceed with the January examination sequence “the place they decide it proper to take action”.
And on Monday night time, the DfE stated vocational exams in England would proceed as deliberate in January and college students taking exams “ought to attend as scheduled”.
However after an outcry, the Authorities has softened its method.
A DfE spokeswoman stated: “In mild of the evolving public well being measures, colleges and faculties can proceed with the vocational and technical exams which can be on account of happen in January, the place they decide it proper to take action.
“We perceive this can be a troublesome time however we need to assist colleges and faculties whose college students have labored exhausting to organize for assessments and exams the place crucial.”
Throughout a sombre deal with to the nation final night time, Mr Johnson instructed Brits summer time checks can be cancelled.
He stated: “It is not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead as normal.
“Different preparations can be put in place.”
And this morning Michael Gove, former schooling secretary, stated: “Clearly we are able to’t have A-levels, GCSEs or BTecs in the best way that we’ve got had them previously.
Kids in England are studying remotely as soon as once moreCredit score: Getty Photos – Getty
It comes as greater than 1,000,000 Brits are actually feared to have CovidCredit score: Gov.UK
“However there are ways of ensuring that we can assess the work that students have done, give them a good recognition of that and assist them on to the subsequent stage of their schooling.”
When requested if that meant exams can be cancelled, he replied: “Sure.”
The Authorities has confronted points over the return of colleges.
On December 14, Mr Williamson threatened councils in London with authorized motion after the native authorities stated colleges should shut.
Days later, on December 17, ministers stated the return of secondary faculty and faculty pupils In January can be staggered.
However Sage then suggested the Authorities to maintain secondary colleges closed – and on December 31, the Training Secretary stated the beginning of time period can be delayed to offer colleges extra time to place mass testing amenities in place.
Most pupils had been instructed they’d return on January 18 as an alternative of January 11, whereas primaries in hotspot areas had been instructed they needed to keep shut from January 4.
However as the brand new 12 months arrived, the Authorities introduced all main colleges in London would keep shut – whereas others would open as deliberate.
Two days later, the PM stated he had “little doubt” colleges had been secure.
However yesterday, January 4, Mr Johnson introduced that every one colleges would shut, with college students transferring to distant studying, till not less than the February half-term.
It occurred hours after three million college students returned to class.
