• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Delay next year’s exams, Labour urges government

Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, said students starting Year 11 and 13 in September had been left with “a mountain to climb” unless the timetable is changed, after missing months of schooling.

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2020-08-31 10:38
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Next year’s A-level and GCSE exams in England should be pushed back to the middle of summer to help students cope with the impact of coronavirus, Labour has said.

Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, said students starting Year 11 and 13 in September had been left with “a mountain to climb” unless the timetable is changed, after missing months of schooling.

Exams – due next May – should be delayed until June or July to facilitate extra teaching time, she added.

“Pupils across the country who have missed out on vital teaching time will have a mountain to climb to prepare for May exams unless the Government steps in,” Green said.

“Ministers had warning after warning about problems with this year’s exam results, but allowed it to descend into a fiasco.

“This is too important for Boris Johnson to leave until the last minute. Pupils heading back to school need clarity and certainty about the year ahead.”

Ofqual chaos

The government said it would consider its approach, but vowed that exams will go ahead as schedule.

The exams system was chaotic this year, leaving teachers, students and parents calling for a significant re-think ahead of next summer. 

Nearly 40 per cent of A-level grades awarded by an Ofqual algorithm were below teachers’ predictions, leaving disadvantaged students particularly badly affected.

RelatedPosts

Panel of 2024 Labour voters say they warmed to Farage after I’m A Celeb

‘Either he’s lying or he’s stupid’: Neil Kinnock slams Farage

‘He’s done nothing’: Nigel Farage accused of only using Clacton ‘for photo opportunities’

‘They can’t organise a p*ss-up in a brewery’ – Steve Coogan rips into Reform

A U-turn was eventually announced after widespread criticism, with grades based on teachers’ estimates instead. However many pupils were still left in limbo, after missing out on university places for this year.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Green said: “It’s so important that the government starts to make contingency plans now so we don’t see a repeat of the fiasco that we saw over the last few weeks.”

“Our first priority must be to give the students every possible chance to demonstrate their learning, their attainment and their potential,” she added.

‘Worthy of serious consideration’

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said Labour’s plan was “worthy of serious consideration”.

But, he added: “A delay is not without its problems. A consequential delay to the publication of results will put pressure on higher education providers such as universities and colleges, as well as employers.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We recognise that students due to take exams next summer will have experienced disruption to their education, which is why we prioritised bringing Year 10 and Year 12 pupils back to school last term.

“Exams will go ahead next year, and we have been working closely with the sector, Ofqual and exam boards to consider our approach.”

Related: Low-ranking universities ‘crippled’ by Tories’ A-level U-turn

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Tory MPs line up to warn Sunak against Covid tax hike ← Love Island stars paid to promote flailing NHS Test and Trace
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->