GCSE and A-Level exams could be sat later in 2021 to give students more time to prepare after being housebound by coronavirus, Gavin Williamson said today.
The Education Secretary confirmed a consultation has been launched into whether the tests could be moved from May to July – traditionally during the school holidays.
Students preparing for exams next summer have missed three months of lessons, mocks and and exam preparation due to coronavirus and such a move would allow them extra time to catch up.
It came days after he unveiled a £1 billion fund to help children ‘catch up’ with lost learning after months out of school amid the pandemic.
Ministers have come under huge pressure to act after failing in attempts to ensure all students spent a month in class before the summer break.
Some years have returned but universal return is not expected to happen until September.
Speaking in the Commons this afternoon in response to a question from Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke, Mr Williamson said: ‘One of the key elements of the billion-pound package is making sure those children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have extra support in terms of one-on-one tutoring and tutoring in small groups.
‘My honourable friend raises an important point about how do we add more teaching time in?
‘And that is why we will be consulting with OfQual about how we can move those exams back, giving children extra time in order to be able to learn and really flourish and do incredibly well.’
The Education Secretary confirmed a consultation has been launched into whether the tests could be moved from May to July – traditionally during the school holidays
Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke has campaigned for exams to be pushed back next summer, and the Government is now examining the move
Further Government plans for all children to return to school will be revealed next week, Mr Williamson also revealed.
He tore into Labour, accusing the opposition of blocking a return to classrooms for students, as he took questions in the House of Commons.
Mr Williamson was challenged this afternoon by shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, who said said: ‘All of this uncertainty could have been avoided if the Secretary chose to listen to the sector.
‘So would he confirm today that he will now formally convene a taskforce of trade unions, education childcare leaders and staff, local authorities, parents’ organisations and health experts to dress these issues urgently?’
Mr Williamson replied: ‘There is a reality – that this side of the House is committed to getting every child back into school and we understand that actually this is where they are going to benefit from.
‘If it was up to the party opposite we wouldn’t see any children back into the classroom, but what we’ve already got, we’ve got nursery back, we’ve got reception back, we’ve got Year 1 back, we’ve got Year 6 back, we’ve got Year 10 back and we’ve got 12.
‘We’ve given schools extra flexibility to get more children in and we’ve made it clear that next week we’ll be outlining plans for a full return of every single child in every year group back into school.’
However, he did not gve a date for getting the children back into school, with fears that they will have to return on a part-school, part-homelearning basis in September.
Friday’s announcement included a multimillion-pound tutoring programme for pupils worst affected by coronavirus closures.
It was widely welcomed but concerns have been raised about the ability of some schools to pay towards the subsidised scheme.
The £350 million year-long initiative is due to start in autumn and will see state primary and secondary schools in England able to access ‘heavily subsidised tuition’ from an approved list of organisations.
The other £650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the 2020-21 academic year to help children from all backgrounds who have missed out on teaching time.
Mr Williamson was challenged this afternoon by shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, who said that ‘all of this uncertainty could have been avoided if the Secretary chose to listen’ to experts
The Government’s aim is that providers who run holiday clubs and activities for pupils over the summer break will be able to open – if the science allows it.
The funding has been welcomed by the Local Government Association, the children’s commissioner and unions who have described it as a ‘vital and significant investment’.
But some concerns have been raised around schools being able to contribute to the costs, the quality of the tutoring, and autonomy over how the money is used.
In a fiery clash Mr Williamson added that the Government’s scheme to help the education sector ‘will deliver results and make a difference’.
Ms Long-Bailey said: ‘Now last Thursday evening the Government issued a press release clearly stating the Government has announced £700 million will be shared across early years, schools and 16-19 providers.’
She added: ‘However less than an hour later the Government amended the press release, the funding was not for early years and 16-19, it was £650 million, not £700 million, it would not be available until September and now I hear that schools will need to find 25% of tuition funding themselves.
‘So I ask the Secretary, what on Earth happened?’
Mr Williamson replied: ‘The difference between our scheme and (Ms Long-Bailey’s) scheme is that our scheme will deliver results and make a difference.’
He added: ‘It is going to deliver and close the gap in terms of attainment much more effectively than any of the proposals that the party opposite has done.’